Siemens Energy, EGA meet to review power project progress
Siemens Energy is leading the construction of EGA’s $272 million power block in Jebel Ali
Chief officials from Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Siemens Energy have recently met to review progress and discuss future cooperation at EGA’s Jebel Ali power generation facility which is under construction.
Siemens Energy is leading the construction of the $272 million power block, which will be the first to have a Siemens Energy H-class gas turbine in the global aluminium industry. The new power block will have a generation capacity of over 600 megawatts of electricity.
According to a statement from EGA, its total electricity generation capacity is similar to that of New Zealand, and is used in its aluminium smelting and other industrial operations.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, said: “Aluminium is used in applications that make modern life possible and contribute to a more sustainable society. We have a duty to also produce aluminium in a sustainable way. Siemens Energy is an important partner as we strive to continue to improve energy efficiency, reducing costs and environmental emissions.”
Meanwhile, Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy, said that EGA is the largest power producer in the UAE after the Abu Dhabi and Dubai utilities.
“We are proud to support EGA in improving efficiency and reliability while reducing emissions and costs, and we look forward to many more years of partnership and collaboration.”
According to the statement, the H-class turbine was moved into place in a four-day logistical feat in February, at the new power block. Once completed, the new power block will replace five older, smaller, and less efficient turbines, which will be placed on standby for use only in emergencies, it stated.
EGA also said that the first firing of the H-class turbine is expected in December, while full completion of the project is expected next summer. EGA’s new power block is being developed by JA Power & Water Co, a joint venture formed by Mubadala and Dubal Holding and it intends to buy power from the joint venture for 25 years following commissioning, EGA said in the statement.
The new power block is expected to lower greenhouse gas emissions from EGA’s power-generation and aluminium-smelting operations at Jebel Ali by some 10% while the installation of the H-turbine aligns with the UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050.
