Day: August 1, 2021

ABU DHABI, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, and Gulf Extrusions, a subsidiary of the Al Ghurair Group, today signed an agreement for the innovative re-use of an industrial by-product in EGA’s production process, replacing the use of fresh raw material, improving efficiency, and benefiting the environment.

The agreement is another step by EGA to re-use waste streams as feedstocks by cooperating with other industries.

Under the agreement, Gulf Extrusions will supply EGA with some 450 tonnes of spent caustic soda from its Abu Dhabi and Dubai extrusion plants each month for use in alumina refining.

In aluminium extrusion, caustic soda is used to dissolve residue aluminium in the extrusion dies and to etch extruded aluminium profiles in the anodisation process.  Spent caustic soda from Gulf Extrusions is rich with dissolved aluminium. Previously, this by-product required extensive treatment at Gulf Extrusions, resulting in an aluminium-rich sludge that was supplied as an additive to cement manufacturers in the UAE.

The innovative approach jointly developed by EGA and Gulf Extrusions removes the need for treatment and re-uses the aluminium content of the by-product, making it a cradle-to-cradle solution. It also slightly reduces EGA’s requirement for fresh caustic soda and bauxite for Al Taweelah alumina refinery.

In alumina refining, caustic soda is used to dissolve the aluminium content of bauxite ore.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said, “Finding ways to re-use waste takes innovative thinking and close cooperation between companies and industries. But solutions like this agreement with Gulf Extrusions reduce the need for fresh raw material and are part of how we can address our global waste management challenge. The first priority must be eliminating waste generation, but we must think of waste we cannot avoid creating as a potential resource today rather than as our children’s problem.”

For his part, Christian Witsch, CEO of Gulf Extrusions, said “EGA’s re-use of spent caustic soda to make full use of the aluminium content of this by-product will reduce the environmental impact of both our companies. I believe this is the first time in the world that an extrusion company is supplying this by-product to an alumina refinery for re-use, and I am proud that Gulf Extrusions is part of this innovative sustainability initiative.”

EGA and Gulf Extrusions have already extensively trialled the re-use of spent caustic soda at Al Taweelah, developing transport protocols to ensure its safe transfer between the two companies’ sites.

 

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) has announced the results of its operational performance for the first half of 2021. The free zone achieved growth in new sales revenues with an increase of 8.3 percent, which resulted from the rise of 24 percent in the leased areas compared to the same period last year.

These record results are an extension of the strategic plan set by DAFZA at the beginning of 2021, which aims to target the recovering markets after lifting the restrictions on global trade movement in a post-pandemic environment. In addition, the results show an increase in demand for the logistic units and leasing by more than double when compared to 2020.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of DAFZA, said, “DAFZA’s strong performance in the first half of this year confirms its ability to attract and sustain foreign direct investments. As well as its strategic role in supporting the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in positioning Dubai as the capital of the global economy. Our results were an expected response to the recovery of the global trade movement and the opening of markets, proving the high confidence the emirate enjoys globally.”

“The emirate will be hosting the upcoming major global event Expo 2020, which will shed light on the exceptional experience led by the UAE and the emirate of Dubai in directing and attracting investments and creating opportunities. This means the coming phase will be a promising period of recovery that will positively reflect on our economy and the other neighboring markets,” Sheikh Ahmed added.

DAFZA achieved strong results by launching a set of economic incentives and packages to attract new investors. This led to an increase in the number of registered companies by 88.4 percent compared to the same period in 2020.

DAFZA maintained its position as a preferred destination for multinational companies and succeeded under the current circumstances in increasing the number of registrations for those companies by 23.5 percent.

DAFZA also supported small and medium-sized companies by providing advanced solutions that create opportunities for commercial and service expansion in the region. As a result, DAFZA recorded an increase in the number of small and medium companies by 96.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

DAFZA’s total trade reached more than US$39 billion in the first quarter of 2021, with an increase of 4.7 percent compared to the same period in 2020. The free zone also achieved a trade surplus of AED 2.44 billion. As a result, DAFZA’s contribution to Dubai’s trade accounted for 11 percent during the first quarter of 2021, in which it maintained the same level in the first quarter of 2020.

Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Director-General of DAFZA, said, “DAFZA’s achievements during the first six months of this year highlight its relentless pursuit and keenness to provide a single global business model, underlining its leadership as one of the most advanced and developed free zones in the world. The free zone also plays a key role in supporting the direction of the UAE and the emirate of Dubai in economic diversification, as DAFZA supports more than 1,800 companies across more than 20 economic sectors.”

 

Source: Emirates News Agency