EGA projects to build a solar-powered production unit for silicon metal

The world’s largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) plans to develop renewable energy sourced (solar-powered) production facility for silicon metal. Silicon is one of the crucial raw materials essential in the manufacturing of premium aluminium production. However, the project will also form part of the ‘Operation 300billion’ and ‘Make in the Emirates’ initiatives.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, the CEO of EGA said, “Developing a silicon metal manufacturing facility would secure our supply of a strategic raw material. Once we have met our demand we could expand further, creating a new growth opportunity for our company.”

During the process of casting silicon metal is added to aluminium to create high-strength alloys, which are in extensive demand from the automotive sector. This is in view of the fact that Silicon improves the fluidity of the melt, reduces the melting temperature, decreases the contraction associated with solidification and as raw material, it is very much economical.

Lately, the UAE-based industrial giant, EGA has also delivered to European automotive clients. Almost 25 per cent of EGA’s production is foundry alloys that are streamlined to make vehicle components.

Presently, UAE’s domestic silicon metal manufacturing capacity stands at nil. Furthermore, this needs to be known that EGA is the largest importer of silicon metal, with an annual demand of around 60,000 tonnes, while, China manufacturers and caters for some 70 per cent of the global silicon metal demand, using fossil fuel for its production.