Saudi mining company Ma'aden has approved plans for a new aluminum recycling plant in Ras Al-Khair, according to its earnings release (pdf). The plant is expected to produce 400k metric tons annually. No further details regarding an investment ticket or operational timeline were provided.

Not Ma’aden’s first recycling plant in Ras Al-Khair: Ras Al Khair Ma’aden has developed the Kingdom’s first aluminum recycling plant in 2015, according to their website.

About Ras Al-Khair Aluminium refinery: The Ma'aden Aluminium Complex — which includes a refinery, smelter and rolling millis unit — is located in Ras Al Khair 90 km North of Saudi Arabia’s Jubail city, and stands as the world’s largest integrated aluminum facility since it launched in 2011. The complex has an annual production capacity of 1.8 mn tons of alumina, 740k tons of aluminum and 380k tons of aluminum sheets. It also includes power, steam and water facilities for its internal consumption. The project had an investment ticket of USD 10.8 bn and was developed in partnership with US-based aluminum giant Alcoa.

Ma’aden’s has been boosting its recycling activities: Ma’aden partnered Finnish industrial machinery developer Metso and Germany’s Thyssenkupp to develop phosphogypsum recycling back in January, the firm’s website announced at the time. Phosphogypsum is a solid waste byproduct of fertilizer production, and has harmful radioactive components.

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