UAE Minister visits EGA to review progress on bauxite residue pilot plant
Company’s long-term goal is to send zero process waste to landfill
Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, welcomed HE Dr Amna Bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, to review progress on construction of a pilot plant to convert bauxite residue into a manufactured soil.
Bauxite residue, a by-product of alumina refining, has been a global waste management challenge since the dawn of the aluminium more than a century ago. Some 150mn tonnes of the material are produced worldwide each year, according to industry experts, with less than two per cent put to productive use. EGA has developed proprietary processes to re-use bauxite residue through almost a decade of scientific research and development.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer, EGA, received Her Excellency and her delegation at EGA headquarters in Al Taweelah.
Proprietary technology
EGA’s pilot plant will use proprietary technology to convert caustic bauxite residue into an environmentally benign raw material in hours, instead of undergoing decades-long, natural processes. This Optimised Bauxite Residue is the main ingredient for a manufactured soil, which EGA calls ‘Turba’ (the Arabic word for soil).
“At MOCCAE, we welcome the work undertaken by businesses like EGA to invest in sustainable soil management practices, foster innovation and promote sustainable solutions,” remarked HE Dr. Amna.
“Our long-term goal is to send zero process waste to landfill, and we have made great progress. Bauxite residue is the most challenging waste stream in our industry, and I am confident we are close to solving it. I look forward to industrial-scale production of our sustainable industrial soil for a better tomorrow,” concluded Bin Kalban.
