Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, today announced the readiness of the waste management system for its Al Taweelah alumina refinery that is currently under construction. Responsible storage and eventual re-use of bauxite residue are important for the sustainability of the project. EGA prepares to begin production at Al Taweelah alumina refinery during the first half of next year.

Bauxite residue is a by-product of alumina refining, and EGA’s goal is to responsibly manage its storage and develop potential re-uses. The company has completed construction of a dedicated storage area for bauxite residue about 30 km from Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi.

When the refinery starts production, bauxite residue will be washed, pressed into a dry cake, and transported to the area for permanent managed storage using a fleet of sealed trucks. The storage site will be progressively sealed and landscaped, with the land re-used for potential projects from warehousing to a solar farm.

EGA has signed a contract with global waste management company Veolia to manage the transport of bauxite residue and the storage facility.

Zaher Al Habtari, Senior Vice President of Refinery Operations at EGA, said: “The responsible management of bauxite residue has been a key priority for Al Taweelah alumina refinery since the project was on the drawing board, and UAE environmental regulators rightly set tough standards. I am confident that we have a world-class storage solution in place, but our ambitions are much higher as we aim in the longer term to turn this waste into value through innovation.”

Industry experts estimate that at least 150 Mt of bauxite residue are produced worldwide each year. It is thought that less than 2% of this is currently put to productive use.

EGA is working with the American University of Sharjah, The University of Queensland and other universities, as well as expert consultancies, to research and develop economic uses for bauxite residue which, if successful, would be a global breakthrough for the aluminium industry.

Potential uses being explored include converting bauxite residue with agricultural and domestic wastes into soil for greening, and using bauxite residue to produce bulk construction materials.