Emirates Global Aluminium restarts production at Al Taweelah alumina refinery

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has restarted prouduction at Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi after Iranian drone attacks on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi in March led to an emergency shutdown.

The refinery aims to ramp up to 50 per cent of plant capacity production within days, with a full return to alumina production by the end of 2026. 

Production at the refinery was suspended following the March attack, which also left several EGA employees injured and caused "significant damage" to property. 

"The dedication and agility of the team at Al Taweelah alumina refinery has enabled us to reach this milestone safely and quickly," said Abdulnasser bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA

EGA clarified that the ramp-up of aluminium production at Al Taweelah smelter, does not depend on full ramp-up at its alumina refinery.

Located next to each other, alumina is feedstock for aluminium smelters and is generally transferred to storage and then into the smelter by a system of conveyor belts.

Al Taweelah alumina refinery originally began production in 2019, with 2.4 million tonnes of alumina produced in 2025 that met 46 per cent of EGA's needs.