Saudi mining company Maaden has signed a deal with GlassPoint, a leader in industrial solar steam, to develop the world’s largest solar process heat plant at its alumina refinery in Ras Al Khair on the kingdom’s east coast.

When complete, the 1,500 MW facility will help Maaden achieve sustainability goals by reducing carbon emissions by over 600,000 tonnes annually. This represents more than 50 per cent reduction of carbon footprint in Maaden’s alumina refinery and four per cent of its overall carbon footprint, said the Saudi mining group.

Under this agreement, Maaden and GlassPoint will work together developing a more sustainable way to produce aluminium.

A major player in the mining industry, Maaden said its mine-to-market aluminum business comprises the Al Ba’itha mine and fully integrated refinery, smelter, rolling and export facilities in Ras Al Khair. It provides high-quality billets, ingots, slabs and flat-rolled aluminium products to customers across the globe.