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Abu Dhabi / WAM
Emirates Global Alumin-ium (EGA) announced that commissioning of its new Al Taweelah alumina refinery has entered its final stages.
Commissioning is the detailed process of testing equipment and systems in a new plant before start-up. First production from Al Taweelah alumina refinery is expected during the first half of this year.
EGA has begun hot water testing of Digestion section of alumina refinery. Digestion is the first of four successive stages of Bayer process through which bauxite ore is refined into alumina, the feedstock for aluminium smelters. Digestion involves heating of a slurry of crushed bauxite and caustic soda to 270 degrees centigrade using steam. Testing equipment and pipe- lines with hot water un-der high pressure simulates normal operating conditions and is last step to ensure a facility is ready for process chemicals to be introduced.