Emirates Global Aluminium and Sunstone plot anode facility

Emirates Global Aluminium and pre-baked anode producer Sunstone will construct an anode manufacturing plant in the United Arab Emirates next year.

The new anode manufacturing facility will have a capacity of 300,000 tonnes of anodes per year.

In line with Make it in the Emirates and the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial growth strategy, production from the new plant will replace most of EGA’s current anode imports and make the UAE one of only a few countries to export anodes globally

First anode production is expected in 2028.

The two companies signed a Joint Venture agreement for the project, with EGA holding a 45% share and Sunstone 55%.

EGA and Sunstone are expecting to invest approximately $300 million (in proportion to their respective shareholdings) to develop the plant.

Anodes are required in the smelting of aluminium. EGA produces some 1.35 million tonnes of anodes each year at its plants in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah. The remainder of EGA’s need is currently imported.

Sunstone will build the plant on behalf of the joint venture, with EGA as a financial investor and off-taker.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “This project creates additional export opportunities for the UAE, further increases EGA’s local procurement and our contribution to UAE economic growth, and supports EGA’s long-term security of anode supply.

“We are pleased to partner with Sunstone, combining our decades of anode manufacturing experience to establish their first plant outside China in the UAE.”

Lang Guanghui, Chairman of Sunstone, said: “This collaboration represents a substantive move by both parties to respond to the green transformation of global manufacturing. “We will go all out to set new benchmarks in efficiency and lay a solid foundation for future sustainable operations.”