EGA forms JV with China’s Sunstone for an anode manufacturing plant in UAE

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has formed a joint venture with China’s Sunstone and announced that construction of an anode manufacturing plant in the United Arab Emirates will begin in 2026.

The two parties today signed a JV agreement for the project, with EGA holding a 45 per cent shareholding and Sunstone the remaining 55 per cent. The two companies are expected to invest nearly US$300 million (in proportion to their shareholdings) to develop the new plant.

Sunstone is one of the world’s largest producers of pre-baked anodes. Anodes are required in the smelting of aluminium.

EGA produces some 1.35 million tonnes of anodes each year at its plants in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah. The remainder of its need is currently imported.

EGA, Sunstone unite for UAE plant

The new manufacturing facility will have a capacity of 300,000 tonnes of anodes per year. In line with Make it in the Emirates, production from the new plant will replace most of EGA’s current anode imports and make the UAE one of only a few countries to export anodes globally.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, commented: “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.

“We are pleased to partner with Sunstone, combining our decades of anode manufacturing experience to establish their first plant outside China in the UAE. This project is Make it in the Emirates and Operation 300bn in action – leveraging UAE industrial demand to build new manufacturing in the UAE to meet local needs and expand exports.”

Lang Guanghui, Chairman of Sunstone, added: “We are honoured to establish our first overseas foothold in the UAE and partner with an enterprise like EGA, which carries half a century of industry heritage and a mission to shape the future of aluminium.

“This collaboration represents a substantive move by both parties to respond to the green transformation of global manufacturing. We will go all out to set new benchmarks in efficiency and lay a solid foundation for future sustainable operations.”