UAE-based aluminium producer Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has completed a debottlenecking expansion at its Al Taweelah alumina refinery that has added up to 50,000 t/yr of alumina output.
The project includes the installation of a third ball mill that reduces the risk of unplanned outages and allows for further capacity expansion at the refinery, which has a nameplate capacity of 2mn t/yr.
EGA is seeking alternative bauxite supplies after Guinea revoked and reassigned its bauxite mining licence. EGA signed an agreement in July with Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development to explore opportunities to develop bauxite-related projects in Ghana, which holds more than 900mn t of bauxite reserves in three known deposits.
"This expansion is a key step forward for Al Taweelah alumina refinery, unlocking additional production capacity as we reorient our bauxite supply chain beyond Guinea. It further strengthens our operational resilience and unlocks capacity growth," EGA chief executive Abdulnasser Bin Kalban said.
