EGA Leads Aluminum Industry in Global Maritime Sustainability

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest producer of premium aluminium globally and the largest non-oil and gas industrial company in the United Arab Emirates, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first aluminium producer and the inaugural Middle Eastern company to join the Sea Cargo Charter. This move underscores EGA's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility in its shipping operations.

The Sea Cargo Charter, a global initiative, establishes a comprehensive framework for evaluating and disclosing the climate impact of ship chartering activities. The aim is to collectively reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions of global shipping, aligning with the International Maritime Organization's objectives to achieve net-zero emissions by around 2050.

EGA, responsible for shipping approximately 22 million tonnes of aluminium, bauxite, and raw materials worldwide annually, recognizes the crucial role of sustainability in its production and transportation processes. While the bulk of EGA's scope 3 emissions is attributed to the production of raw materials, global shipping still represents a significant portion of its overall environmental footprint. According to the International Energy Agency, the entire global shipping industry contributed two percent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in 2022.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, emphasized the essential role of aluminium in fostering a more sustainable society and highlighted the importance of sustainable production methods. EGA has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, including emissions from its supply chain. Joining the Sea Cargo Charter is viewed as a strategic step for EGA to enhance performance, foster transparency, and work toward the goal of net-zero emissions from supply chain activities.

Eman Abdalla, Vice Chair of the Sea Cargo Charter and Global Operations Director at Cargill, expressed satisfaction in welcoming EGA as the first global aluminium producer and the premier Middle Eastern industrial company to join the initiative. Abdalla emphasized that the journey toward more sustainable shipping starts with a commitment to transparency, a unified methodology, and emissions reporting. EGA's participation is anticipated to inspire other stakeholders in the aluminium industry to adopt similar measures for carbon emissions transparency in their supply chains.

In 2022, EGA took a significant step towards marine decarbonization by signing an agreement with one of its shipping partners, "K" Line. The collaboration aims to develop and implement new technologies for decarbonizing marine operations along EGA's bulk cargo shipping routes in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean. This forward-looking initiative demonstrates EGA's dedication to exploring innovative solutions to minimize its environmental impact and contribute to the broader goals of sustainable shipping.

Emirates Global Aluminium's involvement in the Sea Cargo Charter and its proactive efforts to explore decarbonization technologies underscore the company's commitment to leading the aluminium industry in adopting sustainable practices and contributing to global environmental objectives. As a key player in the industry, EGA's actions set a positive example for others, encouraging the adoption of eco-friendly measures and fostering a more sustainable future for the aluminium sector.