Imerys’ first solar plant in the Middle East will reduce GHG emissions by 15%
Imerys Al Zayani Bahrain is celebrating the inauguration of a 4.7-megawatt solar power plant, marking a significant stride towards sustainability and cost reduction. The collaborative effort supports Imerys’ 2030 goal to align its activities with the 1.5°C trajectory, contributing over 15% reduction in GHG emissions for the white fused alumina production plant.
Located in Hidd, Bahrain, the white fused alumina production plant has reduced its energy costs, while making significant progress in improving its environmental impact. This initiative aligns with both Imerys’ sustainability goals and Bahrain’s Net Zero initiative, which aims for zero neutrality in terms of carbon emissions by the year 2060.
The new solar power system covers three areas of the plant: rooftop solar; ground-mount solar; and car park solar. Over 8,600 solar panels in total provide the 4.7MW system that will produce 7,600 GWh of clean energy per year, enabling a reduction of 5,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. This represents over 15% of the plant’s emissions compared to the 2021 base year.
As a Group, our target is to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% in absolute terms by 2030. This solar plant is a concrete example of what we are doing to achieve our goal and develop low-carbon products for our customers.
Collaboration was key to this project, as success was achieved in conjunction with the site’s partner company, Al Zayani Industries; Yellow Door Energy, a leading sustainable energy provider for businesses in the Middle East and Africa; and Midal Solar, the appointed contractor on the project.
As the solar developer, Yellow Door Energy was responsible for financing, designing, building, commissioning, operating and maintaining the solar plant for the duration of the 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Imerys has been able to reduce energy costs without any upfront investment or operational risk, while maintaining focus on its core business as a world leader in mineral-based specialty solutions.
10 years of excellence
The inauguration on March 3 was part of a double celebration, as the plant also marked 10 years of operation.
A joint venture between Imerys (70%) and Al Zayani Investments, the state-of-the-art plant began production of white fused alumina in 2014. Its strategic location in an emerging economic power such as Bahrain makes it ideal for supplying the growing Asian market.
The team at Hidd has accomplished many notable achievements, and the plant is well-regarded within the Group for its highly engaged workforce, operational excellence and mature safety culture. The site has won several internal awards for good operational practice and, in January 2024, it was recognized with the Imerys group’s inaugural Visible Felt Leadership award, demonstrating exemplary leadership and innovation when it comes to employee health and safety.
Dirk Van Den Heever, Imerys Hub Director for the EMEA region, praised employees for their focus on safety, outstanding performance, and ability to collectively adjust to changing market cycles.
What stands out here is the people, this is an important joint venture, locally and for Imerys. Everyone I have met from Imerys Al Zayani is open and friendly. I’m excited to see what’s in store for our plant here in Bahrain.
During a celebration day dedicated to colleagues and their families, Philippe Bourg thanked employees and congratulated them on their achievements:
What a decade! The plant has been modernized and developed to be a best-in-class industrial facility. What I have seen while visiting the plant is truly remarkable. The solar plant has been a long and demanding project in which many of our colleagues have been involved. Everyone can be proud of the result.
Imerys was invited to take part in the 5th edition of the National Renewable Energy (EnR) Entreprises Conference, held on Tuesday, January 16th, at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Paris. The Group presented a concrete example of its strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of its operations through the use of renewable energy.
Conductive carbon blacks are essential for clean and efficient energy solutions such as lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells. As demand for these products rises in automotive and other energy transition sectors, Imerys is continuously improving its innovation, research and production efficiency to deliver beneficial product solutions to its customers. This commitment recently led to the inauguration of the cutting-edge Carbon Black Pilot Plant at Imerys Willebroek.
The unification of the three previous laboratories aims to increase efficiency and shorten project deadlines by speeding up the interaction between the different functions and applications of minerals in various industries.
On October 24, Imerys announced the start of the EMILI project in the presence of government officials, elected representatives and local authorities.