EMIRATES Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas, said it has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) to extend their exploration of potential collaboration on technology in the aluminium value chain.

The agreement extends a MoU originally signed in 2018 by the duo. Under this, both companies will explore co-operation on aluminium smelting technology development, including novel technologies with lower greenhouse gas emissions.

As Saudi Arabia’s national mining champion and one of the fastest-growing mining companies in the world, Ma’aden will consider cooperation with EGA on the management of by-products from processes in the aluminium value chain, and aluminium recycling.

Maaden operates the largest and most efficient vertically integrated aluminium complex in the world in Ras Al Khair on Saudi Arabia’s east coast.

A major player in the region, EGA has developed its own aluminium smelting technology for more than 25 years. The company has used its UAE-developed technology for every smelter expansion since the 1990s and has retrofitted all its older production lines.

The agreement was signed by Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, the Chief Executive Officer of EGA and Riyadh Al Nassar, Senior Vice President of Ma’aden’s Aluminium business in the presence of Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, EGA’s Vice Chairman and Musabbeh Al Kaabi, EGA Board member.

Bin Kalban expressed delight at the agreement with Ma’aden on potential cooperation in technology and other development to support further the sustainability of both companies.

“The successful tackling of big challenges can only be accelerated by companies working together,” he noted.

Al Nassar said: “Aluminium is one of the world’s most crucial metals for many global industries going into a future that is focused on environment and sustainability. This partnership aims to increase the cooperation between Ma’aden and EGA to work together, including towards more sustainable aluminium production.”

Maaden’s mine-to-market aluminium business comprises the Al Ba’itha mine and fully integrated refinery, smelter, rolling and export facilities in Ras Al Khair. Ma’aden provides high-quality billets, ingots, slabs and flat-rolled aluminium products to customers across the globe, he added.