Milestone in Emal smelter expansion

POTLINE AT AL TAWEELAH SITE WILL BE LONGEST IN THE WORLD

B y S h e h a b A l M a k a h l e h

The first structural steel for Emirates Aluminium’s (Emal) Phase II expansion was erected on July 29, Emal, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala and Dubai Aluminium (Dubal), said in a statement. It is the latest milestone for the UAE flagship industrial project and brings the company another step closer to becoming one of the world’s largest singlesite aluminium smelters. Once completed in 2014, the potline at the Al Taweelah site will be the longest in the world at 1.7 km, the company said.

Saeed Al Mazroui,

Emal president and CEO, said, “I am pleased to see phase II progressing on schedule. This milestone which was achieved as per plan is very critical to our first hot metal date.”

Al Mazroui told Gulf News: “Aluminium global demand is forecasted to grow 5 per cent year-on-year. Our confidence in the market is reflected in our Phase II expansion and the addition of a new product — foundry — to our product portfolio to reflect changing demand in the market.”

Yousuf Bastaki, Emal vice president, said: “The steel structures are the first visible signs of our Phase II expansion and brings us closer to meeting the ambitious targets we have set for ourselves. Emal is also pleased to cooperate with Emirates Steel who supplied the steel required for its expansion work.”

In total, it will take 120 of the specially designed structures to facilitate the additional 444 reductions pots required to expand production to 1.3 million metric tonnes per year. It will take around one year to complete the installation of all 120 structures, the statement said.

Last month, Emal announced production of 1.5 million tonnes of hot metal. “Emal’s production by end of 2012 will be 800,000 metric tonnes,” Al Mazroui said. The CEO said the company exports to more than 200 customers in 34 countries, including Japan, US, Europe, South Asia, the Middle East, and GCC states.