Day: May 16, 2023

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Alcoa and Emirates Global Aluminum sign major, long-term alumina supply agreement

ABU DHABI, 16th May, 2023 (WAM) Alcoa (NYSE:AA) and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) have announced a new multi-year agreement, with Alcoa set to supply EGA with smelter grade alumina. The agreement, spanning eight years starting in 2024, includes volume options that enable EGA to procure up to 15.6 million metric tonnes of alumina from Western Australia. This supply agreement represents a substantial portion of Alcoa’s annual third-party alumina sales. It solidifies Alcoa as EGA’s largest third-party supplier of alumina. In 2022, EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi fulfilled 47 percent of EGA’s overall alumina requirements. “Alcoa operates the world’s largest third-party alumina business with low-carbon processes, and we’re proud to be recognised with this significant additional volume from EGA as a leading global producer,” said Alcoa President and CEO Roy Harvey. “The agreement is the largest alumina supply contract ever signed between Alcoa and EGA, and it is one of the largest in the industry and will strengthen the long-term supply relationship between our two companies.” EGA is the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside of oil and gas, operating smelters in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, an alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi, and a bauxite mine in the Republic of Guinea. “Most of our alumina needs into the next decade are now secured by our own production and a long-term supplier in Alcoa that is aligned with our sustainability goals.,” said Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, EGA’s Chief Executive Officer. “This agreement will further strengthen EGA’s platform for future growth.” The contract includes options for EGA to choose Alcoa’s low-carbon EcoSourceTM alumina, the aluminum industry’s only low-carbon alumina brand. EcoSource is produced with no more than 0.6 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) per tonne of alumina (scope 1 and scope 2 emissions), which is half of the industry’s average of 1.2 tonnes of CO2e. This measurement includes direct emissions from the Company’s bauxite mining and alumina refining processes and indirect emissions from the energy consumed in those processes. Hazem Hussein/ Muhammad Aamir

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Israeli forces injure 4 Palestinians in Jenin Governorate

Four Palestinians were hospitalized following a raid by Israeli forces on the city of Jenin in the West Bank’s northern region.

The Palestinian Health Ministry gave a statement saying that the injured, suffering from bullet wounds, were sent to the hospital.

Local sources also revealed that the Israeli forces also detained four other Palestinians after raiding their home, while also mentioning the city witnessed a serious clash between Palestinians and the Israeli military forces.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

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MoHAP launches national campaign for early detection of hypertension

DUBAI, 16th May, 2023 (WAM) — The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched the National Campaign for Early Detection of Hypertension in collaboration with the International Society of Hypertension and campaign sponsors. This year, the campaign is set to test 50,000 adults at various locations across the country during May and June, working alongside government and private health institutions, universities, Life Pharmacies, the Emirates Cardiac Society, Servier, and Omron. Themed “Don’t wait! Take part and be aware: Monitor Your Blood Pressure and Embrace a Confident, Healthy Life”, the campaign aims to raise health awareness within the community about the importance of checking blood pressure, adopting healthy lifestyles, and understanding the factors contributing to hypertension and its complications. It also aims to reduce the incidence of noncommunicable diseases, in line with the objectives of the sustainable development strategy. Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, Dr. Buthaina Abdullah bin Balila, Head of the Non-Communicable Disease Department at the Ministry; attended the launch ceremony held in Dubai. This is in addition to representatives from government and private health entities and universities. Dr. Al Rand said that the national campaign will support the UAE’s plans aimed at combating noncommunicable diseases, and enhancing prevention as well as control of hypertension in line with the best international practices based on scientific research and evidence. He emphasised that the UAE is at the forefront of countries implementing programmes and initiatives developed to reduce the prevalence of diseases, including high blood pressure, which is part of the strategic health indicators. The nation’s goal is to decrease the high blood pressure rate by 30 percent by 2030, ultimately enhancing individuals’ quality of life and creating a healthy society with sustainable well-being. This can be achieved by prioritising prevention over treatment, guided by a clear vision that incorporates effective initiatives, plans, and programmes. “The national campaign was initially launched on May 1, 2017, followed by campaigns in 2018 and 2019, in cooperation with government health agencies and the private health sector. As a result, the country achieved remarkable success, securing first place among 89 countries,” Al Rand said while urging attendees, strategic partners, and community members to actively participate in the campaign. For her part, Dr. Buthaina emphasised that the the national campaign will help promote public health and strengthen preventive and health commitments, adding that the ministry has already developed effective plans for managing preventive and community health programmes to enhance the quality of healthy life across the nation. She added that the campaign will offer free blood pressure screening services, during which basic demographic and clinical information and blood pressure measurements will be collected by nurses, trained volunteers, and a network of pharmacies in the country. Dr. Buthaina stated that MoHAP is dedicated to periodically updating scientific evidence based on the latest international practices and research. In 2019, the fourth updated version of the hypertension guide was launched to help develop the skills of healthcare professionals, and preparations are underway to launch the updated 2023 version.

Source: Emirates News Agency