EGA, Mubadala and Dubal Holding break ground on Dhs1bn power block

Emirates Global Aluminium, Mubadala, and Dubal Holding have broken ground on a new Dhs1bn ($272m) power block at EGA’s Jebel Ali smelter in Dubai.

EGA is the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas, and is jointly owned by Mubadala Investment Company and Dubal Holding. The company’s new facility is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its power generation at Jebel Ali by 10 per cent, while emissions reductions per tonne of aluminium produced at Jebel Ali – including power generation and aluminium smelting – are expected to be up to 7 per cent.

The ground breaking ceremony was held in the presence HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice chairman of Dubal Holding and vice chairman of EGA, and Khaled Al Qubaisi, EGA board member and CEO of aerospace, renewables & ICT at Mubadala.

The new facility was developed after Mubadala and Dubal Holding formed a joint venture to work on it. EGA plans to buy the power block’s output for 25 years following commissioning.

The block will use the UAE’s first combined cycle H-class gas turbine, installed by Siemens. The project is also the first in the global aluminium industry to use such a turbine.

Speaking at the ceremony, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, said: “This project reinforces our sustainable development journey, as well as our support of one of the UAE’s most vital industries, in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces to promote the UAE leading position globally.

“This is done through ambitious initiatives and sustainable development projects that are highly efficient in power generation and water desalination that support the objectives of the UAE Centennial 2071, which outlines the path for a brighter future for generations to come by making the UAE the best country in the world.

“Now we have broken ground, we look forward to developing this project successfully.”

Abdulla Kalban, managing director and CEO of EGA, said: “We are pleased to break ground on this important project which will improve our power generation efficiency at Jebel Ali, saving costs and environmental emissions. We are now focused on safe construction and ultimately starting up the new power block in line with our plans.”

As soon as the power block is commissioned, five older, smaller, less efficient turbines at EGA Jebel Ali will be put on standby for use only in emergencies.