Emirates Global Aluminium Becomes First to Digitally Connect Metal Quality Analysis to London Metal Exchange

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest 'premium aluminium' producer globally and the UAE's largest industrial company outside of oil and gas, has become the first company to digitally link its metal quality analysis system to the London Metal Exchange (LME).

This digital connection automates the submission of certificates of analysis, essential documents for verifying the specification and quality of metals shipped to and from LME warehouses worldwide. The LME is the central hub for trading industrial metals, setting global benchmark prices for aluminium. LME-approved warehouses facilitate physical delivery and ensure price convergence, requiring all delivered metals to meet stringent quality, shape, weight, and responsible sourcing standards.

The digital certificates of analysis will enhance traceability, accessibility, and transparency by eliminating paper documents, which are prone to damage or loss during global shipments.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, stated, "Our digital transformation is a core part of achieving EGA's bold aspiration to innovate the future of aluminium production. Leading our sector in digitally providing certificates of analysis to the LMEpassport platform is just one way we are using big data and analytics to transform the efficiency of our operations and business at EGA."

Georgina Hallett, Head of Physical Markets at the LME, added, "We are delighted that EGA has made the first direct connection to LMEpassport, taking advantage of a digital solution that in time will entirely replace the need for paper certificates of analysis across all physically delivered LME metals, bringing greater security, traceability, and operational efficiency to the trading of physical metal."

All primary aluminium smelters producing LME brands must digitize their certificate of analysis submission process by October this year, integrating with the LME's digital register, LMEpassport.

EGA initiated its digital transformation in 2021, aiming to enhance operations, improve customer and employee experiences, and create new revenue streams. This initiative includes over 65 Industry 4.0 use cases, such as using AI for real-time quality checks on carbon anode production and developing predictive tools for commodity market movements. Nearly 2,000 EGA employees have been upskilled in digital capabilities, and the transformation has yielded approximately $85 million in financial impact.

Additionally, EGA and Microsoft have launched one of the region's first digital manufacturing platforms to harness further value through Industry 4.0 applications. At Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah, construction is nearing completion on the region's first industrial data centers powered entirely by renewable energy.