EGA delivers UAE’s first low-carbon aluminium using nuclear energy

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has delivered the UAE’s first batch of low-carbon aluminium powered by electricity from the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region.

Marketed under the brand name MinimAL, the low-carbon metal will be supplied to CANEX Aluminum, a leading downstream aluminium producer in Egypt, for use in infrastructure, solar energy, transportation, and architectural applications.

This milestone positions the UAE as a key supplier of sustainable industrial materials globally and enhances EGA’s portfolio of low-carbon products.

Electricity for the aluminium was provided by Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and certified through the UAE’s Clean Energy Certification programme using I-REC protocols, ensuring international traceability and credibility.

Decarbonising the aluminium industry

Electricity generation accounts for roughly 60% of the aluminium industry’s global emissions.

The Barakah Nuclear Plant, supplying 24/7 carbon-free electricity via Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), generates 40 terawatt-hours annually, meeting 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs and avoiding 22.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

EGA, already a pioneer in green aluminium, produced 80,000 tonnes of solar-powered CelestiAL aluminium in 2024 and markets recycled aluminium under the RevivAL brand.

The company is also constructing the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling facility at Al Taweelah, due to begin operations in the first half of 2026.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, chief executive officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said, “Global demand for low carbon aluminium is expected to triple by 2040, and EGA aims to play an important role in this growth. MinimAL is our latest low-carbon product, made possible through the UAE’s investment in nuclear power generation. We are glad to be working with ENEC to supply more low carbon aluminium to the world.”

His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, managing director and chief executive officer of ENEC, said, “This milestone shows how nuclear energy is boosting national energy security and enabling the UAE’s industrial decarbonisation in parallel, reliably powering energy-intensive sectors like aluminium production with clean electricity 24/7. Through the abundant electricity generated at Barakah, we have unlocked the significant, proven and long-term benefits of nuclear energy to power the UAE’s low-carbon economy for decades to come.”

Mutassem Daaboul, managing director of CANEX Aluminum, said, “At CANEX, we believe true sustainability is built into every layer of production—from the raw material to the final product. Our upcycling model already transforms waste into value-added products. Now, with MinimAL, we are taking another step forward by reducing embedded emissions at the very beginning of our process. This partnership with EGA reflects our shared commitment to responsible innovation.”

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