Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and British oil and gas firm BP p.l.c. have signed a memorandum of understanding to search for and develop methods for reducing the level of carbon dioxide generated to provide EGA’s calcined petroleum coke supply.
The companies hope to utilize the relationship to potentially collaborate on a calcined petroleum coke blending facility built in the United Arab Emirates. The facility would ultimately support the emissions and quality optimization of calcined petroleum coke that EGA obtains from its various supply sources.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said in a press release that short-term carbon reduction goals are just as important as longer range goals.
“While our industry must achieve a step-change in greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades, it is important that we also continue to focus on the incremental improvements that are in reach today. Through this cooperation with bp, we are targeting reductions in the greenhouse gas emission intensity of these important processes in our raw material supply chain.”
EGA uses calcined petroleum coke to form carbon anodes which are consumed in reduction cells during the aluminium smelting process. The firm uses around one million metric tons of calcined petroleum coke per annum, 40 percent of which they obtain from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). The remainder is obtained from overseas suppliers, including BP. EGA has been sourcing calcined petroleum coke from BP for over a decade.