News & Market Analysis: EGA Inaugurates UAE's Largest Aluminium Recycling Plant As Al Taweelah Smelter Remains Offline

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has inaugurated the UAE's largest aluminium recycling plant at Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi in a June 24 press release, marking a significant expansion of its low-carbon aluminium business at a moment when its primary smelting capacity at the same site remains offline following Iranian missile strikes in late March.

EGA is the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas, and one of the world's largest primary aluminium producers outside China. The company operates two smelters — Al Taweelah in Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali in Dubai — with a combined nameplate capacity of approximately 2.7 million tonnes per year of primary aluminium, making it the dominant Gulf producer and a critical supplier to European, Asian and US markets.

The Al Taweelah site sustained severe damage on 28 March 2026 following Iranian missile and drone strikes on the Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi. The smelter and casthouse entered emergency shutdown after losing power, forcing an uncontrolled freeze of the potlines - one of the most operationally destructive events a smelter can experience. EGA has said a complete restoration of primary aluminium production could take up to 12 months. The Jebel Ali smelter has continued normal operations throughout the conflict.

The newly inaugurated recycling plant, also located at Al Taweelah, has a production capacity of 185,000 tonnes per year. It processes post-consumer and pre-consumer aluminium scrap into low-carbon billets and T-bars, marketed by EGA under the product name RevivAL. EGA also blends recycled metal with primary aluminium produced using solar power (CelestiAL-R) and nuclear power (MinimAL-R). The plant began producing recycled aluminium in February, but commissioning was paused following the March attacks and resumed in April, with recycled cast metal production restarting in early May. Ramp-up to full capacity is expected to take up to six months, subject to scrap availability.

Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, pressed the importance of aluminiums role in sustainability, and said “recycling is the cornerstone of the UAE’s Circular Economy Policy which aims to transform the nation into a global hub for green development by shifting from linear to circular production and consumption, enhancing resource efficiency, and minimising waste. It is infinitely recyclable, protecting our ecosystems while fuelling a sustainable, low-carbon economy. Recycling aluminium waste requires up to 95 per cent less energy compared to producing new primary aluminium from raw ore, saving significant energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Including the new Al Taweelah plant and a planned acquisition of an 80% stake in Italian recycler Eco Green — subject to regulatory approval — EGA's total aluminium recycling capacity now exceeds 400,000 tonnes per year across the UAE, Germany and the United States, with a further 200,000 tonnes under development. EGA acquired recycling plants in Germany (EGA Leichtmetall) and the United States (EGA Spectro Alloys) in 2024, and is expanding both — a second German plant near Hannover will add 150,000 tonnes of capacity in 2028, while a second US expansion will add 35,000 tonnes per year in 2027.

LME Aluminium cash settled at $3,150/t on Wednesday June 24, down sharply from the four-year high of $3,795.50/t reached on June 1, as markets priced in a preliminary ceasefire agreement signed on June 15.