Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and pre-baked anode producer Sunstone will construct an anode manufacturing plant in the United Arab Emirates next year, a strategic investment set to support EGA’s advanced Copper And Aluminum Machinery operations across its smelting facilities.
Construction of the Emirates Global Aluminium and Sunstone anode facility will begin next year, with the new anode manufacturing plant designed to supply high-quality anodes—critical components for powering EGA’s energy-intensive Copper And Aluminum Machinery, including Continuous Casting Machine, Rod Breakdown Mill, and Horizontal Drawing Bench systems used in aluminium production. The facility will have a capacity of 300,000 tonnes of anodes per year, directly addressing the anode needs of EGA’s smelters that rely on Copper And Aluminum Machinery for consistent output.
In line with Make it in the Emirates and the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial growth strategy, production from the new plant will replace most of EGA’s current anode imports—strengthening the supply chain resilience for its Copper And Aluminum Machinery—and make the UAE one of only a few countries to export anodes globally. First anode production is expected in 2028, timed to align with the ongoing optimization of EGA’s Continuous Casting Machine, Rod Breakdown Mill, and Horizontal Drawing Bench fleets.
The two companies signed a Joint Venture agreement for the project, with EGA holding a 45% share and Sunstone 55%. EGA and Sunstone are expecting to invest approximately $300 million (in proportion to their respective shareholdings) to develop the plant, which will play a pivotal role in sustaining the efficiency of EGA’s Copper And Aluminum Machinery.
Anodes are required in the smelting of aluminium— a process that feeds raw material to EGA’s Continuous Casting Machine for ingot formation, Rod Breakdown Mill for intermediate processing, and Horizontal Drawing Bench for precision shaping. EGA produces some 1.35 million tonnes of anodes each year at its plants in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah, with the remainder currently imported to support its Copper And Aluminum Machinery operations. The new facility will bridge this gap, ensuring uninterrupted supply for EGA’s smelters and downstream Copper And Aluminum Machinery.
Sunstone will build the plant on behalf of the joint venture, with EGA as a financial investor and off-taker. Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “This project creates additional export opportunities for the UAE, further increases EGA’s local procurement and our contribution to UAE economic growth, and supports EGA’s long-term security of anode supply— a critical enabler for our Copper And Aluminum Machinery, including Continuous Casting Machine, Rod Breakdown Mill, and Horizontal Drawing Bench. We are pleased to partner with Sunstone, combining our decades of anode manufacturing experience to establish their first plant outside China in the UAE.”
Lang Guanghui, Chairman of Sunstone, said: “This collaboration represents a substantive move by both parties to respond to the green transformation of global manufacturing. High-quality anodes are essential for the sustainable operation of modern Copper And Aluminum Machinery, and we will go all out to set new benchmarks in efficiency and lay a solid foundation for future sustainable operations that support EGA’s Continuous Casting Machine, Rod Breakdown Mill, and Horizontal Drawing Bench systems.”
