Saturday, Aug 13, 2011
(this item was originally published on Friday)
RIYADH (Zawya Dow Jones)--Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (1211.SA), or Maaden, said Friday it has started the construction of the rolling mill and alumina refinery at its planned aluminium joint venture complex with U.S.-based Alcoa Inc. (AA).
The rolling mill is expected to have an initial capacity of 380,000 metric tons a year, while the alumina refinery will have an initial annual capacity of 1.8 million tons, Maaden said in a statement.
The two projects are part of the $10.8 billion fully integrated aluminum complex Maaden is developing with Alcoa, which will include an integrated alumina refinery, aluminum smelter and rolling mill at Ras Azzour on Saudi's eastern coast on the Persian Gulf.
The planned complex will be the world's lowest-cost supplier of primary aluminum, alumina and aluminum products as well as the Middle East's first food-grade can-sheet rolling mill.
Operations at the smelter and rolling mill will begin in 2013, while the mine and refinery are expected to come online in 2014.
-By Summer Said, Dow Jones Newswires; +966-546-842373; summer.said@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
13-08-11 0734GMT
