EGA restores 25% of Al Taweelah aluminium capacity

(SpaceEnergy) Emirates Global Aluminium has restarted 315 of 1,262 reduction cells at its Al Taweelah smelter, restoring 25% of capacity after an emergency shutdown in March.

The United Arab Emirates producer said all three potlines are now being progressively restarted, with full production targeted for the first quarter of 2027. Around 1,000 people are working on the restoration.

Al Taweelah sustained significant damage on 28 March during an Iranian attack on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi, forcing an emergency shutdown of EGA facilities at the site. Potline 1 was re-energised on 26 May, potline 3 on 13 July and potline 2 on 3 August.

EGA said each restarted reduction cell typically takes about a week to stabilise and reach full production. Its Al Taweelah alumina refinery is meanwhile operating at around 50% capacity, with further ramp-up dependent on supply-chain considerations.

The development is relevant to the aerospace materials supply chain because EGA supplies high-purity aluminium for aerospace applications and has previously supplied aluminium used in spacecraft structures.(SpaceEnergy) Emirates Global Aluminium has restarted 315 of 1,262 reduction cells at its Al Taweelah smelter, restoring 25% of capacity after an emergency shutdown in March.

The United Arab Emirates producer said all three potlines are being progressively restarted, with full production targeted for the first quarter of 2027. Around 1,000 people are working on the restoration.

Al Taweelah sustained significant damage on 28 March during an Iranian attack on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi, forcing an emergency shutdown of EGA facilities at the site. Potline 1 was re-energised on 26 May, potline 3 on 13 July and potline 2 on 3 August.

EGA said each restarted reduction cell typically takes about a week to stabilise and reach full production. Its Al Taweelah alumina refinery is operating at around 50% capacity, with further ramp-up dependent on supply-chain considerations.

The restoration follows a 32% year-on-year fall in EGA’s first-half aluminium sales to 939,000 tonnes, while cast-metal production fell 29% to 1.006m tonnes, largely because of the Al Taweelah disruption.

The London Metal Exchange’s three-month aluminium contract was last seen at $3,229.50 per tonne on 24 August.