Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) achieved the internationally recognized ASI Performance Standard at its Al Taweelah smelter in the United Arab Emirates, demonstrating its commitment to environmental, social and governance performance. EGA is the first company in the Middle East to achieve a certification to the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) standard.
“People around the world are rightly concerned that the products they use every day to make their lives better do not harm other people or the planet,” said Abdulla Kalban, EGA’s managing director and chief executive officer. “Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification provides assurance to our customers, in industries from automotive to electronics, that EGA is committed to helping them meet global consumers’ increasing expectations for responsibility. This is an important milestone for EGA and we intend to seek certification for other facilities in the future.”
The Al Taweelah smelter produces more than 1.5 million tonnes of aluminum each year. The successful certification follows a rigorous independent audit process to assess EGA’s practice and performance at the site in relation to environmental, social, and governance standards, including biodiversity, human rights, transparency, community engagement, emissions and waste. The certification covers EGA’s aluminum smelting facilities at Al Taweelah in Abu Dhabi, including EGA’s port, power generation, carbon plant, potlines, and casthouse.
EGA was the first Middle East headquartered company to apply to join the ASI back in December 2017. The company has been actively pursuing methods of addressing the challenges of reducing its carbon footprint. This includes the develop and implement means of processing and selling waste material by-products, such as spent potlining and carbon dust, from its production process.
“ASI congratulates EGA as the first Middle-East-based member to achieve ASI Performance Standard Certification,” said Fiona Solomon, chief executive officer of ASI. “We are proud to hear how the ASI Certification process has impacted in a positive way on different areas of EGA’s operations, including in relation to biodiversity. It is these kinds of stories of change that underscore the importance of ASI’s work program and remind us why the ASI Standards were developed.”
In 2017 EGA’s first annual sustainability report detailed its environmental and social performance and governance. The report includes disclosures required by the ASI and was developed in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative standards. EGA supplies aluminum to more than 350 customers in over 60 countries.