Eti Alüminyum Launches Major Project

Eti Alüminyum has been awarded funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 Grant Programme for the ERA-MIN 3 Project titled "Use of Aluminium-Containing Raw Materials for the Production of Aluminium, Other Metals and Compounds," which will be conducted in collaboration with companies and universities from three different countries. The project, also supported by TÜBİTAK, will run for 3 years. Eti Alüminyum, which produces for strategic sectors in Turkey and supports reducing the current account deficit, continues to be an industry leader through its research and development and innovation activities. Eti Alüminyum, which has been awarded funding under the European Union Horizon 2020 Grant Programme that supports the generation of scientific knowledge worldwide and the creation of university-industry collaborations, will implement the "Use of Aluminium-Containing Raw Materials for the Production of Aluminium, Other Metals and Compounds" project with companies and universities in Sweden and the Czech Republic. In Turkey's component of the project, which is also supported by TÜBİTAK, Eti Alüminyum, Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) and Yeditepe University will work together. Mehmet Arkan, General Director of Eti Alüminyum, emphasized that they are the only integrated facility in Turkey producing primary aluminium from ore, stating: "Our company, founded 49 years ago, combined its half-century of experience and knowledge accumulation with technology and research and development activities after joining the Cengiz Holding umbrella in 2005, achieving an important position in Turkey and the world. While we offer new products developed through our research and development activities to strategic sectors in Turkey, we continue to make our mark on major projects through our ongoing innovation activities. This project, which aims to find an alternative to bauxite ore, the raw material of aluminium producers, is one of these initiatives, and its support by the European Union is a great source of pride for us," he said.  

'Bauxite Declared as Critical Raw Material'

Arkan, emphasizing that bauxite is the primary ore used in world primary aluminium production, noted that bauxite, of which 90 per cent is found in tropical and subtropical regions, has been declared a critical raw material by the European Union. "For this reason, bauxite holds great importance for the sustainability of the economy and industry worldwide," Arkan said, continuing: "On one hand, bauxite reserves are declining, while on the other hand, the disposal of red mud, a waste product of bauxite, constitutes an important agenda item. With this project, taking into account the regional characteristics of Central Europe and Turkey, we will work to produce aluminium from certain compounds such as alumina and aluminium oxide and from lower-grade secondary materials. Of course, this will enable us to focus on the design and development of highly flexible multi-product metallurgical processes. We will analyse many raw materials and waste streams. I believe this will also provide significant benefits for our research and development activities. I think our collaboration with İTÜ and Yeditepe University in all these processes will make a great contribution to our scientific perspective. I congratulate all our colleagues who contributed to this project," he said.