Abu dhabi:<Text>

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) announced that recent Iranian missile and drone attacks have caused significant damage to its Al Taweelah complex in Abu Dhabi, leading to a complete evacuation and emergency shutdown.

According to Anadolu Agency, the company stated that the strikes targeted facilities at the Khalifa Economic Zone in Abu Dhabi, impacting the smelter, casthouse, power plant, alumina refinery, and recycling plant. The Al Taweelah site is recognized as one of the largest aluminium production complexes globally.

EGA mentioned that restoring primary aluminium production could take up to 12 months, as infrastructure repairs and a gradual restart of reduction cells are necessary. However, the alumina refinery and recycling plant might resume partial operations sooner, depending on damage assessments.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, expressed deep concern over the attack, highlighting that work ers from over 40 nations were present at the site. He expressed gratitude that no one sustained life-threatening injuries and noted that those injured are recovering well.

Kalban emphasized the significance of the Al Taweelah facility as a cornerstone of the global economy and a key contributor to global aluminium supply, cautioning that the incident could have worldwide repercussions on industries. He assured that the company is committed to supporting its customers globally during this challenging time and is actively working with clients whose deliveries might be affected.

In 2025, the Al Taweelah smelter produced 1.6 million tonnes of cast metal, while its alumina refinery produced 2.4 million tonnes, covering 46% of the company's needs. The recycling plant has an annual capacity of 185,000 tonnes.

The recent escalation follows a US and Israel-led air offensive on Iran on February 28, which resulted in over 1,340 casualties, including the then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and other regions, including Gulf countries hosting US military assets, resulting in casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruption to global markets and aviation.