Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has successfully completed the design phase for its next-generation smelting technology, EX, marking a significant step towards enhancing aluminium production efficiency.
EGA plans to construct ten pilot EX reduction cells at its Al Taweelah smelter to validate performance, with full industrialisation targeted for 2028.
The new EX cells, which are larger than EGA's current DX+ Ultra technology, promise increased production capacity by up to 22% through higher amperage and improved current efficiency. The technology features two variants: one focused on maximizing productivity and the other on minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. The productive variant is expected to reduce emissions by approximately 5%, while the energy-efficient variant could cut emissions by around 12% per tonne of aluminium produced.
Abdulnasser bin Kalban, EGA's CEO, emphasized the importance of technological advancement in maintaining global competitiveness, stating that EX will enable greater aluminium production with lower energy consumption and emissions, supporting the global push for net-zero by 2050.
Developed over 18 months, the EX technology is set to enhance pot performance through innovative design improvements. The pilot reduction cells are anticipated to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2025, continuing EGA's legacy of developing its own smelting technology for over three decades.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
