Emirates Global Aluminium Advances Al Taweelah Restoration

Al Taweelah Restoration Programme Progresses

On August 12, Emirates Global Aluminium announced continued progress on its comprehensive restoration programme at Al Taweelah, following significant damage caused in March 2026 during Iranian attacks on Khalifa Economic Zone in Abu Dhabi. The company has now energised all three potlines at the Al Taweelah smelter, marking a major step in restoring operations. Hot metal production is expected to return to pre-incident levels during Q1 2027. The restoration programme remains focused on progressively rebuilding production capacity while maintaining a disciplined approach to operational recovery across the affected facilities.

Smelter and Recycling Operations Recover

The Al Taweelah recycling plant is currently operating at approximately 10% of its capacity, with a full production ramp-up expected by late Q4 2026. Meanwhile, the alumina refinery restarted production in early July and reached 50% of its pre-incident production level within days. The recovery timeline reflects a phased restoration across the site, with different facilities progressing at different rates. The programme is expected to require approximately AED 1.5 billion, equivalent to USD 400 million, in capital expenditure to restore production capacity at the Al Taweelah facilities.

Production Recovery and Regional Impact

The restoration of Al Taweelah represents a significant operational recovery for United Arab Emirates aluminium production following the March 2026 incident. The energisation of all three smelter potlines establishes a foundation for further increases in hot metal output, while the recycling plant and alumina refinery continue their respective recovery programmes. Emirates Global Aluminium expects the combined restoration effort to progress through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027, with production targets providing defined milestones for the return of affected operations toward their pre-incident levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Al Taweelah expected to return to pre-incident production levels?
Emirates Global Aluminium expects hot metal production at Al Taweelah to return to pre-incident levels during Q1 2027, following the energisation of all three potlines and continued restoration work across the site. The recycling plant is expected to reach full production by late Q4 2026, while the alumina refinery has already restarted and reached half of its previous production level within days. The overall restoration programme requires approximately AED 1.5 billion in capital expenditure, reflecting the scale of rebuilding required across the affected operations.