MUSCAT -- The aluminum rolling mill plant in Sohar is close to the completion of construction, the commissioning of all process equipment has started and liquid metal sourced from Sohar Aluminum has been introduced in the furnaces. The plant is being built on behalf of the Oman Aluminium Rolling Company (OARC), a subsidiary of Takamul Investment Company, by FATA EPC. Initial production and provisional hand over of the Facility is foreseen by fourth quarter 2013.
Takamul is a subsidiary company of Oman Oil Company (OOC), a Commercial Venture of the government of the Sultanate of Oman. The company was formed in 2008 to develop a sustainable downstream chain to support Oman's thriving industrial sector. The company's primary objective is to promote and invest in value-added economically viable projects that feed off local upstream industries that include metals, petro-chemicals and minerals.
FATA EPC, a division of FATA SpA (Turin, Italy) is the prime contractor responsible for the engineering, procuring and construction of the facility which is expected to be capable of producing 160,000 tons of flat rolled products for use in various applications. With 1500 people on site, FATA is close to Construction Completion, have started Commissioning on all Process Equipment and have introduced Metal in the Furnaces. FATA has reached 4.4 million man/hours with no LTI, an excellent Safety Record.
The facility represents the latest state-of-the-art technology in the GCC in flat rolled products and fits with strategy of adding value to existing local raw material and developing economically attractive downstream investments in Oman industries that in turn will contribute to expanding the local industrial network, increasing and diversifying revenues for the local economy as well as creating sustainable employment, in compliance with the Omanisation policy.
On March 25, a high level delegation visited the Construction Site and toured the plant with FATA Management. The delegation included: Paola Amadei, Italian Ambassador to Oman, and on the Omani side, Ahmed al Wahaibi, CEO of Oman Oil Company; Nabil al Ghassani, CEO of Takamul Investment Company; and Lloyd Stemple, CEO of OARC -- Oman Aluminium Rolling Company.
Attending from the Italian side were: Ignazio Moncada, Chairman of FATA SpA; Sergio Praitano, CEO of FATA SpA; Anthony Tropeano, CEO of FATA EPC and FATA Hunter, Divisions of FATA SpA; and Enzo Chieppa, Communication Director of FATA SpA.
Ignazio Moncada, Chairman of FATA SpA, said: "The decision to develop such an important project was one of the biggest moves of the country towards its industrialisation. And we, as FATA, are proud to be actors of this success."
Sergio Praitano, CEO of FATA SpA, said "One of the most important achievements of this project has been the Omanisation policy. And all of us in FATA are very proud to have correctly supported the relevant activities".
Anthony Tropeano, CEO of FATA EPC and FATA Hunter, said: "FATA EPC is proud to have participated as an EPC Contractor in this strategic and challenging industrial project."
Paola Amadei, Ambassador of Italy to Oman, said: "The aluminium rolling facility that FATA is implementing in Sohar represents the remarkable and outstanding technological capabilities of FATA and of the Italian companies. It is also a further and concrete confirmation of the mutual interest from both the Italian and the Omani side.
The bilateral relations established between the countries are excellent and were further strengthened by the official meeting between His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and the Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti held in Muscat last November.
The Sultanate of Oman is carrying out a vast infrastructural plan. The Italian companies are highly qualified to play an active role and contribute with their technology to the realization of the plan launched by His Majesty the Sultan's "Vision 2020"."
Nabil al Ghassani, CEO of Takamul Investment Company expressed: "The investment in the aluminium rolling plant together with our other investments in Sohar allows Takamul to play an important role in unlocking the economic potential of this industry in the area leveraging on the availability of the proud and talented Omani we were successful in achieving a high Omanisation level reached close to 70 per cent.
He added, "Projects such as these will enable further downstream projects in this sector and will create additional training and employment opportunities for Omanis."
Lloyd Stemple, the CEO of Oman Aluminum Rolling Company added: "The plan to recruit and train Omani nationals was done at a very early stage to ensure successful Omanisation participation in the commissioning and operation. The hard work and dedication shown by Omani nationals during training and development will play an important factor in the success of this project."
© Oman Daily Observer 2013
