Abu Dhabi, August 23, 2009: Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) and GASCO have opened a natural gas pipeline that will enable onsite power production at the world's largest single site aluminium smelter.
The pipeline, directly connected to the EMAL power plant, will provide EMAL with a reliable and uninterrupted supply of natural gas. In turn, the gas will be used to supply power for the plant.
"This is an important milestone for EMAL" said Duncan Hedditch CEO of EMAL.
Natural gas-fired power stations are amongst the most environmentally sound methods of power creation, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 70 percent over coal-fired alternatives used in many other aluminium smelters across the world.
"In The design and construction of EMAL we have selected the most environmentally sound technology, and we are committed to achieving best-practice environmental performance," said Hedditch.
Aluminium smelting requires reliable, sustainable and long term access to energy. For the UAE, which holds the fourth largest proven reserves of natural gas in the Middle East, EMAL provides an opportunity to use the natural resources of the country in an upstream diversification project.
"As we move closer to the commissioning of the EMAL site, the news becomes ever more exciting. There is a growing anticipation onsite now that the completion of the construction phase is a tangible reality," said Yousuf Bastaki, Project Director for EMAL. "Many of us have been here since the very early days of this project; with every new delivery and every new milestone, our sense of achievement increases."
-Ends-
For further Information, please contact:
Rosine Feghali,
Emirates Aluminium
Tel: 02 509 2290
Nathan Wilson,
Inpact Porter Novelli
Tel: 04 330 4030
Email: n.wilson@ipn.ae
© Press Release 2009
