DUBAL and EMAL leverage GIFA 2011 to promote product sales in Europe; share proprietary technical innovation; and raise profile of UAE aluminium sector.
United Arab Emirates: The potential contribution of the UAE's primary aluminium industry to the European market will again be emphasized at the 12th International Foundry Trade Fair and WFO Technical Forum ("GIFA 2011"), thanks to the joint participation of Dubai Aluminium Company Limited ("DUBAL") and Emirates Aluminium Company Limited ("EMAL") at this high profile event. Held from 28 June to 2 July this year in Dusseldorf, Germany, the four-yearly series of GIFA exhibitions ranks among the largest in the region, thus providing an excellent platform for growing the volumes of DUBAL and EMAL's products sold in Europe and farther a field.
By design, the combined DUBAL-EMAL exhibition stand at GIFA 2011 will promote the two companies' key attributes, specifically the world-class primary aluminium produced in the UAE and shipped across the globe. The spotlight will also be focused on DUBAL's proprietary, sector-leading DX Reduction Technology that has been implemented on industrial scale at EMAL Phase I.
An entirely state-owned enterprise, DUBAL owns and operates a one million metric tonne per annum primary aluminium smelter at Jebel Ali, Dubai -- one of the largest single-site operations of its kind in the world -- and in 2010 produced 1,002,414 metric tonnes of hot metal. The company is renowned internationally for its premium purity, high quality products and services; as well as its commitment to sustainable development through conscious efforts to maximise the health and safety people, reduce the impact of its operations on the environment, and invest in the social and economic development of the community. Dedicated programmes support the Emiratization goals of the UAE, including targeted recruitment, skills development, management training and strategic career planning. Approximately 92 per cent of DUBAL's annual production is exported globally, the company's key markets being Asia, Europe, the Middle East North Africa ("MENA") region and North America.
A green-field development, EMAL is being built in two phases at Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, and is owned jointly by DUBAL and Mubadala Development Company (in equal shareholding). Energizing of the 756 reduction cells in EMAL Phase I, with a total capacity of 750,000 metric tonnes per annum, took place between 1 December 2009 and 31 December 2010 -- with full production being reached four months ahead of schedule, yet within budget. The company already enjoys a strong reputation for sound safety management, wellbeing programmes for its employees and adopting global best practices to minimize its environmental footprint -- the latter entrenched through the implementation of DX Reduction Technology, which offers enhanced energy efficiency and productivity levels yet lower environmental emissions than comparative technologies. These attributes are complemented by initiatives to harness Emirati talent through job-creation, engaging the community in corporate activities and celebrating the national and cultural heritage of the UAE.
DX Reduction Technology is the product of DUBAL's commitment to developing its own smelting technology which can compete with similar technologies on the world market in terms of productivity, capacity and efficiency, while maintaining the highest standards of environmental conservation. After extensive research and development work, a demonstration line of 40 DX Reduction Technology pots was started at DUBAL's Jebel Ali site in February 2008. Since then the amperage of the potline has been gradually increased from 340 kA to 380 kA with stable results, thereby demonstrating the capability of this technology to operate at high amperage. Consolidated at 375 kA, world-class performance standards are achieved in terms of current efficiency (94.94 per cent), energy consumption (13.389 kWh/kg Al), reduced carbon consumption (<0.420 kg C/kg Al) and pot emissions: with PFC emissions of 0.007 CO2eq mt/mt Al produced, DX Technology has achieved a new benchmark.
Operating at 353 kA, the 756 cells at EMAL Phase I deliver current efficiency of 95.8 per cent and achieve nett specific energy consumption of 13.12 kWh/kg Al.
Following ongoing research and development, DUBAL's DX Technology cells have been redesigned to enable operation at even higher amperages. Five new generation cells, built in the pilot line at DUBAL's Jebel Ali site, have been operating at 420 kA. The improved technology -- known as DX+ Reduction Technology -- is underpinned by the proven, inherently robust DX Reduction Technology.
"The statistics clearly demonstrate the outstanding performance capabilities of DX Reduction Technology at industrial scale and put it at the level of the best available technologies," says Abdulla Kalban (President & CEO: DUBAL and Vice Chairman: EMAL). "Indeed, the proven results from our DX Reduction Technology (and ultimately our DX+ Reduction Technology) confirm the world-class status of the UAE's primary aluminium industry. Not only is the UAE a global supplier of premium purity, high quality aluminium products to exacting specifications, but also an acknowledged hub of technical expertise and innovation."
DUBAL has been an active player in the European market since 1996, and has enjoyed good market share growth over the years. In 2010, almost 230,000 metric tonnes of DUBAL metal was sold into Europe. A further 22,000 metric tonnes of metal produced by EMAL was also sold in Europe during the same period (i.e. 252,000 metric tonnes in total from DUBAL and EMAL). This year, the DUBAL-EMAL Marketing and Sales team anticipates selling about 445,000 metric tonnes of primary aluminium into Europe (of which some 194,000 metric tonnes will be from EMAL).
"Given that the European Union as a whole needs to import approximately 60 per cent of its primary aluminium requirements, we foresee excellent opportunities to grow the market share of DUBAL and EMAL in the region," says Kalban. "This, together with the stringent standards to which we adhere so as to minimize our operations impact on the environment and ensure longer-term sustainability, creates confidence that demand for our products will continue to increase."
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© Press Release 2011
