EGA Ships Bauxite Using World's First LNG-Powered Vessel, Pioneering Green Shipping

Emirates Global Aluminium, the world's leading producer of 'premium aluminium,' has announced the first-ever shipment of bauxite using a vessel powered by Liquefied Natural Gas.

The bauxite shipment, transported on a Capesize vessel, is carrying ore from EGA's subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation to a customer in China.

According to SEA-LNG, a multi-sector industry coalition, LNG-fueled ships can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 28% on a tank-to-wake basis compared to those using conventional marine bunker fuel. The International Energy Agency reports that the global shipping industry accounted for more than 2% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions in 2022.

The bauxite shipment is being transported on the Ubuntu Empathy, an LNG dual-fueled vessel operated by Anglo American and chartered by EGA. This ship is part of Anglo American's fleet of ten LNG dual-fueled vessels designed to have lower emissions.

Capesize vessels are among the largest bulk cargo carriers globally, measuring up to 300 meters in length—equivalent to two football fields—and 50 meters in width. These massive ships can transport approximately 180,000 tonnes of bauxite ore.

EGA mainly uses Capesize vessels to transport bauxite ore from the Republic of Guinea to its alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi and to various third-party clients worldwide. Last year, EGA exported around 14.1 million wet metric tonnes of bauxite from Guinea. Bauxite is the primary ore for extracting aluminum.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminium, stated: “Aluminium is crucial for the decarbonisation of various sectors, and its sustainability is key, including in the transportation of raw materials. Our decarbonisation strategy is thorough, encompassing not only our operations but also our supply chain and financing. By using LNG-fuelled vessels for transporting bauxite, we are taking a significant step to reduce emissions. We are committed to reaching net zero by 2050, including all aspects of our supply chain, and to meeting the growing demand for low-carbon aluminium.”

EGA’s bauxite mining subsidiary, GAC, establishes EGA as one of the largest independent bauxite suppliers globally. GAC has been in operation since 2019.

In 2023, EGA became the first aluminium producer and the first company from the Middle East to join the Sea Cargo Charter, a global initiative focused on shipping and maritime sustainability.

In 2022, EGA partnered with “K” Line to develop and implement new marine decarbonization technologies specifically designed for EGA’s bulk cargo routes in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean.