How has the journey for Ducab Metals Business (DMB) been? What are some of the key milestones? 

Reflecting on DMB's journey, it has been both transformative and progressive. Operating from Abu Dhabi, DMB boasts an annual production capacity of 235,000 tonnes, with 180,000 tonnes of copper and the remainder in aluminium. 

A significant milestone in our journey has been the launch of our Green Aluminium Rod, a crucial innovation towards sustainability. This product aligns with the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulations and leverages usage of recycled aluminium to dramatically reduce our energy consumption and carbon emissions.

This sustainable practice not only reduces energy consumption by 95% and greenhouse gas emissions by 97% compared to traditional aluminium production but also conserves significant amounts of bauxite and reduces CO2 emissions drastically. The upcoming full-scale production of the Green Aluminium Rod in Q4 highlights our dedication to promoting 'low carbon' aluminium, enhancing carbon footprint transparency, and championing circularity. We are also committed to implementing sustainability and fair trade.

Another considerable milestone is the acquisition of GIC Magnet which represents a momentous determination in DMB’s product line and global reach. This strategic move not only diversifies DMB’s portfolio but also enhances our market presence. By integrating GIC Magnet's advanced capabilities and specialised products, such as paper-insulated copper and aluminium strips, we can better meet the growing demands of key industries like automotive, electric vehicles, and transportation. This acquisition is expected to increase our revenue by USD 40.5 million, reinforcing our commitment to leading the metal industry towards innovative and sustainable practices. 

What’s Ducab’s Sustainability First approach and how does it influence its business with respect to its subsidiary DMB? 

Ducab’s ‘Sustainability First’ approach is a comprehensive strategy that impacts every aspect of our operations. It is multifaceted, focusing on energy transition, digitalisation, and the development of green products, while leveraging in-house solar power initiatives to promote sustainability throughout the production process.

DMB, Ducab’s metal subsidiary, has been proactive in the energy transition journey by sourcing molten aluminium sustainably. For instance, through the innovative “hot metal crucible,” we receive molten aluminium from Emirates Global Aluminium, which is directly used in production without the need for re-melting, significantly saving energy and reducing carbon emissions​. 

We have also made significant investments in solar energy at our head office to reduce our carbon footprint. At our Jebel Ali site, both ground-mounted and rooftop solar PV plants collectively produce a significant amount of energy, offsetting a portion of the facility's electricity consumption and contributing to annual CO2 savings.

Our digital transformation, particularly evident in projects like Blade, our Smart Factory of the Future Project, showcases the integration of smart technologies that enhance efficiency and sustainability. This project aims to reduce energy consumption by 30%, waste by 20%, and improve resource use by 15%, demonstrating how digitalisation can play a crucial role in enhancing environmental sustainability. 

Your comments on the current landscape in the trade of copper and aluminium between the UAE and the rest of the world. What are the opportunities and challenges for the UAE? 

At DMB, we are strategically positioned to capitalise on the UAE's significant role in the global copper and aluminium markets. The UAE ranks as the fifth largest producer of aluminium in the world, trailing behind giants like China, India, Russia, and Canada. The GCC region alone produced 6.08 million tonnes of primary aluminium in 2023, which represents about 9% of global production. Remarkably, 44% of this GCC output originated from the UAE, highlighting the country’s pivotal role in the regional market. 

This advantageous position is boosted by the UAE's strategic geographic location and its advanced logistics infrastructure, enhancing our global trading capabilities, particularly between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. This logistical advantage supports DMB's efforts in expanding its recycling capabilities and enhancing the supply of sustainable and recycled aluminium, crucial elements of our product portfolio. However, navigating this dynamic market presents challenges, including operational complexities that can affect our trade processes. Additionally, the highly competitive market demands continuous innovation and strict adherence to quality standards. At DMB, we address these challenges by advancing our technological capabilities and optimising our operational efficiencies, crucial steps as we aim to expand our global footprint and reinforce our leadership in the copper and aluminium sectors.

How does DMB support non-ferrous metals recycling and the use of recycled material in its production?

We understand the importance of conserving natural resources and reducing environmental impact, which is why we prioritise the efficient use of secondary resources such as copper, aluminium and electronic scrap.

In our production processes, we minimise our ecological footprint by reusing and recycling copper and aluminium materials. By adopting lean manufacturing principles, we optimise resource use and monitor material consumption through a 'traffic light system' to avoid excess. Our copper cable granulators play a crucial role in achieving 100% recovery of copper from recycled cables. Additionally, our robust buy-back scheme encourages customers to recycle metal and wooden drums along with cable scrap, further supporting the circular economy. Furthermore, we reduce costs and save energy through our advanced 'hot metal crucible process, which transports molten metal via overhead cranes to preheated pots, maintaining it in a liquid state and minimising the need for re-melting. 

We are also continuously advancing our technologies and processes to meet the growing demands of sustainability and efficiency in the metal industry. As the sector evolves, we remain dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint and leading the way in sustainable manufacturing practices. 

How should the copper/aluminium industry contribute or realign itself to accelerate the journey towards a carbon-neutral circularity? 

With aluminium demand projected to rise by 40% by 2030 and the industry currently responsible for approximately 3% of the world’s direct industrial CO2 emissions, the urgency to accelerate sustainable practices cannot be overstated.

According to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency's (ARENA) roadmap, the industry has two primary emission abatement pathways: the "innovator abatement pathway" for rapid technology deployment and the "gradual abatement pathway" for a more measured approach to address potential challenges. Both pathways emphasise the importance of adopting key decarbonisation technologies such as mechanical vapour recompression, electric boilers in the Bayer process, electric and hydrogen calcination, and thermal storage. Furthermore, a pivotal breakthrough in aluminium smelting could be achieved by significantly scaling up the commercial use of inert anode technology.

At DMB, we are enhancing our sustainability efforts by focusing on aluminium recycling, which drastically reduces the demand for primary production and associated energy and emissions. Recycled aluminium, which makes up a third of the global supply, uses 95% less energy than its primary counterpart. By upgrading our recycling capabilities and increasing our production capacity, we aim to meet the rising demand for low-carbon recycled products. Through investments in advanced recycling technologies and collaborations across the recycling value chain, DMB is committed to leading the industry towards a more sustainable and efficient future, aligning with global environmental goals and evolving market and regulatory expectations for sustainable practices.