Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has completed the world’s first bauxite shipment using a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessel. This milestone marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to achieve climate neutrality. The shipment originated from EGA’s Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) in the Republic of Guinea and was transported to a customer in China.
LNG-powered ships can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28% compared to traditional fuel-powered vessels, according to SEA-LNG, an industry alliance focused on promoting LNG as a marine fuel. The International Energy Agency reports that emissions from the global shipping sector contributed to more than 2% of total emissions in 2022.
The bauxite cargo was transported aboard the Ubuntu Empathy, an LNG-fueled vessel owned by AngloAmerican and chartered by EGA. These megaships are utilized to transport bauxite ore, the primary raw material for aluminum production, from Guinea to EGA’s alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi and other customers worldwide. In 2022, EGA exported approximately 14.1 million wet metric tons of bauxite from Guinea.
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, EGA’s CEO, emphasized the importance of sustainability in the aluminum industry, stating that while aluminum significantly reduces the global carbon footprint, its production and transportation must adhere to sustainable practices. He highlighted that EGA’s integrated approach to carbon reduction spans operations, supply chain, and finance, with LNG-powered vessels playing a crucial role in reducing emissions and contributing to the company’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. 
