Special steel structures the basis for the world's longest potline

Abu Dhabi, 07 August, 2012: On 29 July the first structural steel for Emirates Aluminium's (EMAL) Phase II expansion was erected. 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 single-site aluminium smelters. Once completed in 2014, the potline at the Al Taweelah site will be the longest in the world at 1.7 km.

Mr Saeed Al Mazrooei, EMAL President and CEO, commented on this event "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.

Mr Yousuf Bastaki EMAL Vice President said: "The special steel structures are the first visible signs of our Phase II expansion and brings us yet another step closer to meeting the ambitious targets we have set 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.

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 750,000 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 200 customers around the globe with high quality ISO9000 certified aluminium which is available as sow, standard ingots, sheet ingots and extrusion billets. Sow and standard ingots are traded on the London Metals Exchange. An advanced infrastructure at the Al Taweelah site provides customers with guaranteed, reliable and sustainable production and distribution. The site currently includes a 2,000 MW power plant, which will increase to 3,000MW by 2014, carbon plant and flexible casthouse with 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 uses the most sustainable technologies available worldwide to reduce emissions in line with Environment Agency Abu Dhabi requirements to minimise its carbon footprint.

EMAL has created 2,000 jobs with Emiratization at the core of its employment strategy, which will rise to 3,000 upon completion of Phase II. The company has also introduced scholarship programs to provide technical training for local graduates with guaranteed job opportunities. EMAL's community engagement includes open days for the local community and support for social, sports and cultural organisations.

For further Information, please contact:
Rosine Feghali- Emirates Aluminium
Tel: 02 509 2290
Email: rosine@emal.ae

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

© Press Release 2012