EGA, Mubadala and Dubal Holding break ground on new power block

Emirates Global Aluminium, Mubadala and Dubal Holding today officially broke ground on a new AED1bn power block at EGA’s Jebel Ali smelter in Dubai.

The highly-efficient power facility is expected to reduce GHG emissions from EGA’s power generation at Jebel Ali by some 10%. Emissions reductions per tonne of aluminium produced at Jebel Ali, which includes both power generation and aluminium smelting, are expected to be up to seven per cent. Mubadala and Dubal Holding have formed a joint venture to develop the new power facility. EGA intends to buy the facility’s output for 25 years following commissioning.

Siemens is to install the UAE’s first combined cycle H-class gas turbine at the power block. The project is also the first in the global aluminium industry to use a Siemen’s H-class gas turbine, a leading technology in efficient power generation. Once the new power block is commissioned, five older, smaller and less efficient turbines at EGA Jebel Ali will be put on standby for use only in emergencies.

The project is expected to reduce EGA’s NOx emissions at Jebel Ali by 58%. NOx, which is also emitted by motor vehicles, is amongst a group of emissions targeted for reductions under ‘UAE Vision 2021’ to improve local air quality.

EGA requires electricity for aluminium smelting and other industrial operations, and has captive power plants at both Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah. EGA’s electricity generation capacity is 5,450 MW. In 2018, EGA produced 2.64m tonnes of cast metal.