Diversity key to sustainability, says EGA CEO on ADSW Talks

The Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has said that diversity is a key aspect of sustainability that should not be ignored.

He said that while the aluminium production industry has remained traditionally male-dominated, it can also benefit from gender diversity.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban discussed and outlined the company’s pioneering efforts to reduce its environmental impact in the latest episode of ADSW Talks.

“We are charting a new path for women into new roles throughout EGA to enable the best talents from cross society to contribute progress to our nation,” he said. EGA, a global leader in aluminium production, has pioneered the use of renewable energy in metal production, notably through its Celestial initiative.

Bin Kalban said that EGA was the first company globally to use solar power for aluminium production, with the BMW Group as its primary customer.

This low-carbon aluminium, known as Celestial, is a vital step towards achieving low-emission manufacturing in the aluminium sector.

EGA is further expanding its sustainability initiatives by investing in low-carbon recycled aluminium, acquiring recycling plants in Europe and the United States, and constructing the UAE’s largest aluminium recycling facility.

Beyond decarbonization, Bin Kalban said EGA’s comprehensive approach encompasses waste management and diversity. “Sustainability extends far beyond decarbonization,” he said.

He emphasized EGA’s strides in converting industrial waste into valuable resources, such as using IDE residue to produce soil. “We have been working hard for decades to find ways to convert our waste stream into potential feedstock for other industries.

“Recently, our research and development team achieved landmark firsts converting the IDE residue, which was the aluminium industry’s most challenging waste stream into the main ingredient for manufacturing soil,” he said.