Saudi Arabian Mining Company (MA’ADEN) and GlassPoint have signed an MoU to develop the world’s largest solar process heat plant at MA’ADEN’s Alumina refinery.
The MOU was signed at MA’ADEN’s HQ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by Riyadh Al Nassar, senior vice president of MA’ADEN’s aluminium business and Rod MacGregor, CEO and founder of GlassPoint, and witnessed by Robert Wilt, CEO of MA’ADEN and Jacob Drejer, CCO of GlassPoint.
Once complete, the 1,500 MW solar steam facility will help MA’ADEN achieve sustainability goals by reducing carbon emissions by over 600,000 tonnes annually. This will result in more than 50% reduction of carbon footprint in MA’ADEN’s Alumina refinery and 4% of MA’ADEN’s overall carbon footprint.
Robert Wilt, CEO of MA’ADEN stated: “As the third pillar of the Saudi economy, we aspire to be a role model in ESG in the Kingdom. This significant development will dramatically reduce our carbon footprint and bring us closer to our mandate of carbon neutrality by 2050. As the world moves towards green aluminium, MA’ADEN intends to help lead the way in this transition.”
Riyadh Al Nassar, SVP Aluminium SBU of MA’ADEN stated: “The proposed new facility, a solar thermal plant known as MA’ADEN Solar 1, will be located in Ras al Khair, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and will harness the power of the sun to produce steam. The steam will be used to refine bauxite ore into alumina. Alumina is a critical feedstock to Aluminium, which is one of the world’s most crucial metals for many global industries going into a future that is focused on environment and sustainability.”
“MA’ADEN is leading the way to reduce industrial carbon emissions at scale by replacing fossil fuels with solar power to create heat. This facility when built will be the largest industrial solar steam plant in the world and the first deployed in both Saudi Arabia and in the aluminium supply chain,” said Rod MacGregor, CEO and founder of GlassPoint.
“With this MOU, GlassPoint is entering a new phase of growth to help decarbonize a range of industries seeking to lower their carbon footprint.”
Saudi Arabia’s Saudi green Initiative is expected to help the country become an international leader in sustainability, and advance in its fight against climate change.
Last year, the SGI unveiled the first wave of more than 60 initiatives, amounting to a SAR 700 billion ($186B US) investment to accelerate the green economy across Saudi Arabia and beyond.
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