Magmec, a company building facilities for the production of clean magnesium, signed an MOU with Metix, a South African subsidiary of SMS group, to develop a magnesium metal production plant in the United Arab Emirates that utilizes advanced reduction furnace technology. The facility will be designed to process magnesium oxide originating from feed sources including dolomite and brine, among others.
“This partnership reflects our shared mission to commercialize a leading mineral processing technology that has been significantly de risked during the piloting phase,” said Yousef Gorji, founder and CEO of Magmec. “The GCC is a region with a large need for magnesium given its strong industrial base. Our goal is to establish a scalable supply for this metal in collaboration with partners who share our vision, especially those that already use magnesium in their industrial processes today.”
Under the MOU, Metix will support the conceptual development of Magmec’s existing process flow models towards front-end engineering design (FEED), which will ultimately enable full project de-risking. The collaboration combines Magmec’s proprietary extraction technology and know-how, designed to process diverse feed sources, SMS group’s engineering expertise in process design and metallurgical plant development, and industry-leading OEM furnace technologies.
The project supports the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial strategy by strengthening local manufacturing capabilities. It also aligns with the “Make it in the Emirates” agenda to elevate the global profile of UAE-manufactured goods and to support downstream industries that rely on magnesium, including the automotive, aerospace, and electronics sectors.
“SMS group is proud to initiate this landmark project that will explore the establishment of a magnesium production facility,” noted Raman Handa, managing director Middle East, SMS group. “This initiative reflects our vision to advance industrial self-sufficiency, enable new value chains in the Middle East.”