Partnership with Khalifa Port aids EMAL's Phase II construction

Cooperation highlights unity of purpose in the UAE

Abu Dhabi, 26 August 2013: Construction of EMAL's Phase II expansion is more than 70 per cent complete and on schedule to meet its December 2013 deadline. Cooperation with Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) is helping to ensure that the expansion of Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) into one of the world's largest single-site aluminium smelters is on target.

Almost half of the containers of vital equipment had been unloaded and delivered to the EMAL Al Taweelah complex, in the six months prior to February 2013. Khalifa Port's integrated logistics - which includes radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and automated gates - have contributed significantly towards this rapid progress.

By the time construction is due to be completed in December this year, around 5,000 containers destined for the EMAL complex, will have entered the port, passed through customs and been transported directly to the site.

By February 2013, 2,408 containers had been successfully transported through Khalifa Port (1,192 twenty feet containers and 1,216 forty feet ones) delivering more than 67,000 tonnes of state-of-the-art equipment for the expansion of the industrial flagship.

Khalifa Port's technology has helped to speed up delivery, allowing trucks to make two deliveries of containers every day (at 0700 and 1500 hours) to the site, which minimises the number of trucks required.

Commenting on the latest developments EMAL's Vice President - Projects, Yousuf Bastaki, said: "One of the reasons for this success is the partnership we have developed with ADPC, which has enabled the smooth and efficient transportation of the vital equipment needed to build one of the world's largest single-site aluminium smelters. Such local partnerships highlight the unity that exists within the UAE to deliver world-leading projects which will provide the foundation for our future economic prosperity."

Exceptionally large bulk pieces such as compressors, modules, transformers and turbines are currently discharged at Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi and barged directly to Khalifa Port and then discharged at EMAL's construction jetty. ADPC's customer service team provide a dedicated service to support EMAL's Phase II construction project.

Abdulkareem Al Masabi, Vice President Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi Ports Company adds: "EMAL is an anchor tenant at Kizad industrial zone, with a dedicated berth at Khalifa Port and is very much regarded as ADPC's strategic partner.

"EMAL's purpose built wharf at Khalifa Port shortens the supply chain of raw materials direct from sea to smelter. We have worked closely with the company to provide the very best logistic solutions for the delivery of its Phase II construction materials through all of ADPC's ports.

"We look forward to congratulating EMAL on the completion of its Phase II expansion and to supporting the company's progress in support of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 diversification strategy."

-Ends-

EMAL is a state-of-the-art aluminium smelter complex supplying the world with high quality metal. The advanced smelter in Al Taweelah currently uses DX Reduction Cell Technology to produce 800,000 tonnes of aluminium annually. This will increase to 1.3 metric million tonnes by the end of 2014 upon completion of Phase II and the installation of the new generation DX+ Reduction Cell Technology to an additional 444 reduction cells, making it one of the largest single site smelters in the world. Early works on the estimated US$4.5 billion Phase II expansion began in early 2011, making EMAL one of the largest industrial projects in the UAE outside oil and gas and one of the key projects leading to the diversification of the UAE's economy.

EMAL currently supplies over 150 customers around the globe with high quality ISO9001 certified aluminium which is available as sow, standard ingots, sheet ingots, foundry ingots and extrusion billets. Sow and standard ingots are traded on the London Metal Exchange. An advanced infrastructure at the Al Taweelah site provides customers with reliable and sustainable production and distribution. The site currently includes a 2,000 MW power plant, which will increase to approximately 3,000 MW by 2014, a carbon plant and a flexible cast house with the capacity to produce a wide variety of world-class products. A purpose-built wharf at Khalifa Port shortens the supply chain of raw materials direct from sea to smelter.

EMAL has created 2,000 jobs with Emiratization at the core of its employment strategy, which will rise to approximately 3,000 upon completion of Phase II. The company has introduced extensive programs such as Scholarships, Graduate training and Pre-employment courses to provide opportunities for Emiratis and prepare them to hold prominent position.

EMAL uses sustainable technologies to reduce emissions in line with Environment Agency Abu Dhabi requirements to minimise its carbon footprint and is consistently engaged with its surrounding community through providing social, sports and cultural support.

For further Information, please contact:
Sahar Farhat - Emirates Aluminium
Tel: +971 50 12 13 420
Email: s.farhat@emal.ae

Nick Langmead, Impact Porter Novelli
Tel: 050 884 7964
Email: n.langmead@ipn.ae