Keynote address at ARABAL 2016 to explore growth of industrial economy in the Middle East

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23 October 2016
Region's premier aluminium industry gathering puts the spotlight on value creation through energy efficiency, job creation and economic output

United Arab Emirates: The keynote address at the 20^th Arab International Aluminium Conference (“ARABAL”), scheduled to take place in Dubai, UAE, from 22 to 24 November 2016, will outline the direction of the market in a volatile oil price environment by examining the immediate and long-term impact of increased economic pressure on the Middle East, assessing the continued efforts in diversifying the economy, and looking at alternatives to increase efficiency, productivity and opportunities for investment. As a rapidly growing hub in the global aluminium industry, the region and its dynamics are of keen interest to players from across the world.

Renowned as the leading aluminium industry event in the Middle East, the annual ARABAL conference attracts a large international audience. This year’s ARABAL event is being hosted by Emirates Global Aluminium (“EGA”) for the sixth time and will be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance). More than 2,000 participants from 20 countries are expected.

According to Abdulla Kalban (MD & CEO: EGA), “The UAE’s primary aluminium smelters – EGA Jebel Ali and EGA Al Taweelah – are the anchor of industrial economic growth in the UAE. Together with the five other Middle East smelters in Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the primary aluminium industry is the genesis of the broader industrialisation of the wider region. ARABAL provides a perfect platform to examine the historical influence of the sector in creating value for the economy through technology innovation, job creation and economic output, as well as how to move forward and maintain GDP growth in a volatile economic climate.”

In 2015, the Middle East primary aluminium industry’s combined production was 5.59 million tonnes – almost 10% of the total world production.^{^[i]} As a result, all six primary aluminium producers generate substantial contributions to their respective nation’s GDP. By 2020, EGA’s contribution to the UAE GDP is forecast at about US$3 billion direct and US$5 billion indirect with gross exports of about US$7 billion.

In the GCC, the aluminium industry provides direct employment to about 12,000 people and indirect employment to another 30,000 people. Efforts are focused on nationalisation by consciously recruiting nationals, providing training and skills development opportunities, and fast-tracking talented nationals into management positions.

In keeping with the conference theme of “Global Challenges – Seeking Solutions”, the Industry Keynote Panel at ARABAL 2016 will focus on the implications of fluctuating energy prices and corresponding policy changes, and delve deeper into the downstream industry including expansions, product mix dynamics, financial elements, raw materials and upstream integration. The panelists will include Abdulla Kalban (MD & CEO: EGA), Tim Murray (CEO: Aluminium Bahrain), Abdelzaher Abdelsattar Hassan (Chairman & CEO: Egyptalum), Abdulaziz Al Harbi (President: Ma’aden Aluminium), Khalid Mohammed Laram (CEO: Qatalum), Said Mohamed Al Masoudi (CEO: Sohar Aluminium) with Jorge Vazquez (Founder: Harbor Intelligence) as the moderator.

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About EGA
Emirates Global Aluminium (“EGA”) is a jointly-held, equal-ownership company formed by Mubadala Development Company of Abu Dhabi and the Investment Corporation of Dubai by combining their respective aluminium industry interests. EGA’s core operating assets are Dubai Aluminium (“DUBAL”, also known as Jebel Ali Operations) and Emirates Aluminium (“EMAL”, also known as Al Taweelah Operations), whose combined production capacity of 2.4 million tonnes per annum (“tpa”) places EGA among the top five primary aluminium producers in the world, by volume. The UAE-based EGA also owns Guinea Alumina Corporation (“GAC”), a strategic bauxite mine and alumina refinery development project in West Africa; and is currently developing an alumina refinery in the UAE. In addition, EGA has plans for significant local growth and international expansion.

Jebel Ali Operations, where commissioning began in 1979, operates one of the world’s largest single-site primary aluminium smelters. The Jebel Ali Operations complex, built on a 4.75 square kilometre site in Jebel Ali, Dubai, comprises a 1 million tpa smelter, a 2,350 MW power station, a large carbon plant, extensive casting operations (more than 1.2 million tpa), a water desalination plant, dock and other facilities.

Al Taweelah Operations, where commissioning began at the end of 2009, is the world’s largest single-site primary aluminium smelter. The Al Taweelah Operations complex, housed on a 6 square kilometre site in Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, comprises a 1.3 million tpa smelter, a 3,100 MW power station, a large carbon plant, extensive casting operations (more than 1.8 million tpa), a water desalination plant, dock and other facilities.

The EGA portfolio comprises high quality primary aluminium products in three main categories: high purity and foundry re-melt products (for electronics and aerospace and automotive applications respectively); rolled products (for packaging, lithographic sheets and the automotive industry); and billets for extrusion and forging (for construction, industrial, transportation and automotive purposes). Busbars and anode bars are also made for the electrolytic process used to produce primary aluminium from alumina ore. Over 300 customers are served in at least 60 countries, predominantly in Asia, Europe, the MENA region and the Americas.

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