Pact Covers Four Key Research Areas of Mutual Interest

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 02 November, 2011 - Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced it has entered into a Master Research Agreement with Emirates Aluminium Company Ltd (EMAL), a joint venture between Mubadala Development Company and Dubai Aluminium Company (DUBAL).

The agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi in the presence of H.E. Mohammed Ahmed Al Bawardi, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO and Managing Director of Mubadala Development Company, and Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar. It was signed by Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei, President and CEO of EMAL, and Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute. Others present on the occasion included the senior management teams from Masdar Institute and EMAL.

Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei, President and CEO of EMAL, said: "As one of the leading economic diversification projects of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision, EMAL is committed to achieving excellence in all that we do for the benefit of this nation. One of the ways in which we achieve this is by actively refining our current technologies and operations to ensure EMAL stays on the leading edge of clean, efficient aluminium production. The research collaboration agreement with Masdar Institute reflects this, as we firmly believe that this research-focused academic institution can help provide vital insights into refining some of our production techniques."

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, said: "The agreement with EMAL illustrates our status as an institution dedicated to providing real-world solutions to issues of industrial importance. We focus on supporting economic diversification by nurturing highly-skilled human capital through partnerships with industry leaders such as EMAL. It is our firm conviction that the research projects led by Masdar Institute's faculty will generate considerable value for EMAL, the aluminium industry and Abu Dhabi."

Along with the 'Master Research Agreement', four research projects that are of mutual interest to both Masdar Institute and EMAL have been signed. The projects include 'Efficient cooling for shut down pot in aluminium smelters'. Masdar's research team will work with EMAL's research and development team to reduce the pot turnaround and early start-up time through finding an alternative and efficient cooling technique that significantly reduces the cooling delay and increases the plant productivity.

The second project is titled 'Exploring activation water treatment to limit the growth of green algae and other pathogens that promote their growth'. The goal of the research is to design a system that produces on-site electrochemically biocidal liquids which are temporary collected in a storage-container, where they can be dosed into power plant water to disinfect surfaces, air and water lines.

The project on 'Onsite assessments of a reverberatory aluminum melting furnaces' is expected to increase the 'reverberatory' furnaces' efficiency in order to reduce the energy consumed per unit mass of the produced aluminum.

Research on 'Voltage drop study across the anode-rod connection' will be conducted to find the reasons and mitigation options for the voltage drop by studying the composition of the materials and the geometric orientation of the components.

The Master Research Agreement provides sponsorship terms, while details for individual projects such as scope of work, funding level, principal investigator, and tenure of the project are established through individual agreements.

EMAL continuously invests in the best sustainable technologies and emission controls to insure that its impact on the environment is kept to a minimum. These include steps to curb CO2 output by 70 per cent compared to fossil-fuel powered smelters, an environment-monitoring programme to assess air and local conditions, deploying DX Reduction Cell technology which saves energy, a waste reduction strategy to maximize recycling, re-settlement of local wildlife to suitable habitats, and encouraging contractors to use appropriate materials.

Established in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, while working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change.

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About Masdar Institute
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (Masdar Institute) was established by the government of Abu Dhabi as a not-for-profit, private graduate university to develop indigenous R&D capacity in Abu Dhabi addressing issues of importance to the region.

In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute has developed an academic and research platform that articulates its mission and vision according to critical energy and sustainability challenges.

An important characteristic of Masdar Institute is its focus on complex real-world problems that require a multidisciplinary approach for the development of solutions from an integrated technology, systems and policy perspective. This multi-interdisciplinary and integrated approach is supported by the structure of its academic programs and by the emphasis placed on engaging external partners from industry, government, and other academic institutions in collaborative activities.

Masdar Institute offers degrees in:

  • MSc Engineering Systems and Management

  • MSc Computing and Information Science

  • MSc Materials Science and Engineering

  • MSc Mechanical Engineering

  • MSc Water and Environmental Engineering

  • MSc Microsystems Engineering

  • MSc Electrical Power Engineering

  • MSc Chemical Engineering

For more information please visit our website http://www.masdar.ac.ae/.

For more information contact:
Name: Sheerin Al Shinawy
Email: salshinawy@masdar.ac.ae
Phone: +971 02 8109371

About EMAL
EMAL is a state of the art aluminium smelter complex supplying the world with high quality metal. The advanced Greenfield smelter in Al Taweelah currently uses DX Reduction Cell Technology to produce 750,000 tonnes of aluminium annually. This will increase to 1.3 metric million tonnes by the end of 2014 upon completion of Phase II and the installation of the new generation DX+ Reduction Technology, making it the largest single site smelter in the world. Approval of a $4.5bn investment for Phase II, combined with the US$5.7bn Phase I joint venture between Dubai Aluminium and Mubadala Investment Company, makes EMAL one of the largest industrial projects in the UAE outside oil and gas and one of the key projects leading the diversification of the UAE's economy.

EMAL currently supplies 280 customers in 36 countries with high quality aluminium which is available as sow, standard ingots, sheet ingots and extrusion billets. ISO9000 certified sow and standard ingots are traded on the London Metals Exchange. An advanced infrastructure at the Al Taweelah site provides customers with guaranteed, reliable and sustainable production and distribution. The site currently includes a 2000 MW power plant, which will increase to 3,000MW by 2014, carbon plant and flexible casthouse with a wide variety of world class products. A purpose-built wharf at Khalifa Port shortens the supply chain of raw materials direct from sea to smelter.

EMAL uses the most sustainable technologies available worldwide to reduce emissions in line with Environment Agency Abu Dhabi requirements to minimise its carbon footprint. EMAL has created 2,000 jobs with Emiratization at the core of its employment strategy, which will rise to 3,000 upon completion of Phase-II. The company has also introduced scholarship programs to provide technical training for local graduates with guaranteed job opportunities. EMAL's community engagement includes open days for the local community and support for social, sports and cultural organisations.

For further Information, please contact:
Rosine Feghali Bejjani - Emirates Aluminium
Tel: 02 509 2290
Email: rosine@emal.ae

© Press Release 2011