DUBAI, RAKYAT NEWS – During the World Government Summit in Dubai, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, held a meeting with Abdulnasser Ibrahim Saif Bin Kalban, the CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA).

The discussion centered on continuing the collaboration in aluminium production, specifically focusing on the development of smelters that process bauxite in Indonesia.

EGA, a leading global producer of premium aluminium, has recognized Indonesia’s potential as a significant player in the aluminium industry. However, Abdulnasser emphasized that further feasibility studies are necessary to determine the efficiency of aluminium production in the country. This research is essential to refine strategies for scaling production.

EGA operates smelters in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and is one of the largest industrial entities in the UAE outside of the oil and gas sectors. As part of its strategic expansion, EGA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (INALUM) to increase aluminium production and promote sustainable industry development through an integrated aluminium value chain in Indonesia.

During the meeting, Abdulnasser mentioned that EGA had already agreed to expand the smelter in North Sumatra, Indonesia, with a planned production increase of up to 400,000 tonnes per year. However, the project has faced delays due to the high cost of electricity and the low supply of low-carbon electricity, which is necessary for producing environmentally-friendly aluminium.

EGA has been independently developing technology for aluminium smelting and exploring advanced methods for smelters like INALUM’s Kuala Tanjung facility in North Sumatra. The goal is to enhance production capabilities and unlock further potential in Indonesia’s aluminium processing sector. This includes efforts to introduce solar power as a clean energy source to the aluminium production process.

YouTube player