Emirates Aluminium (Emal) today broke ground for what will be the world’s largest single-site aluminum smelter at Taweelah in Abu Dhabi. It also awarded key contracts for the project.

The groundbreaking was inaugurated by Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO and managing director of Mubadala Development and Abdullah Kalban, CEO of Dubai Aluminium, and was attended by dignitaries, government and ministry officials and representatives from the UAE and the international business community.

At the ceremony, Emal also officially announced the awarding of the engineering, procurement, construction and management (EPCM) contract for the smelter project to a joint venture comprising Canada’s SNC-Lavalin and Australia’s WorleyParsons.  The total value of the contract is approximately $300 million.

The contract is for the first phase of Emal’s landmark greenfield smelter project located at a 6 sq km site at Khalifa Port Industrial Zone. 

When both phases are completed, it will be the largest single-site aluminium smelter in the world, with an initial phase one capacity of 700,000 tonnes per annum at an approximate cost of $5 billion. The second phase capacity of the smelter will produce a further 700,000  tonnes per year at an approximate cost of $3 billion. The smelter complex also includes a dedicated 2,000MW power plant.

Speaking at the groundbreaking, Al Mubarak said: “This is indeed a momentous day in the history of industry in the UAE. The EMAL smelter will propel the UAE onto the global industrial stage and set the standard for others to follow.”

“Progressing technological innovation is now at the forefront of our government’s policy, and the considerable investment in resources displays a commitment to excellence.”

The first phase of the smelter is expected to be operational in 2010. Front -end engineering and design studies are scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2007.

Commenting on the contract awards, Kalban said: “If this smelter is to be a showcase for the technological advancement of the Emirates, it is only fitting that we align ourselves with partners who share our vision. Both SNC Lavalin and Worley Parsons have demonstrated a thorough understanding of the importance of this project, its fast track nature and the adherence to quality and excellence at every stage.”

SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading groups of engineering and construction companies in the world, a major player in the ownership of infrastructure, and in the provision of operations and maintenance services. SNC-Lavalin companies are currently working in some 100 countries worldwide. The company is currently under contract to expand Dubal’s smelter by a further 100,000 tonnes per year.

WorleyParsons is a leading provider of professional services to the energy, resource and complex process industries. It has 97 operating offices in more than 30 countries with over 20,400 project services personnel.- TradeArabia News Service