Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation (Adbic) has joined hands with Gulf Extrusions, an Al Ghurair Group company, to set up a $200 million aluminium extrusion plant at Taweelah in the UAE capital.

Adbic is an industrial development and investment company wholly-owned by the Abu Dhabi Government’s General Holding Corporation (GHC).

The joint-venture agreement was signed by Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, CEO of Adbic and Majid Al Ghurair, CEO of Al Ghurair Group of Companies.

As per the deal, Taweelah Aluminium Extrusion Company will invest $200 million in setting up the aluminium extrusion plant, which will be the first of its kind in the Mena region.

The plant is also the first industrial project to be launched in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) after the Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) smelter.

Kizad, with its massive 417 sq km of prime industrial land and world-class facilities, is conveniently located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and is a statement of intent by the Government of Abu Dhabi, creating a wealth of opportunities on a global scale.

This 50,000 MT facility will be built on a 235,000 sq m plot of land adjacent to Emal smelter, one of the largest greenfield aluminium smelter ever built, and one of the largest industrial projects in the UAE outside the oil and gas sector.

The feedstock of liquid aluminum and aluminum billets will be supplied by Emal.

According to Al Dhaheri, Taweelah plant will invest in world-class extrusion equipment and will produce a diversified product range of aluminum extruded profiles, fabricated profiles as well as substructures and systems.

The product range, he said, will be unique for any extruder in the region as it will cater to the industrial, automotive and transportation sectors as well as to the top end building and construction projects, meeting the most stringent standards of local, regional and international customers.

Al Dhaheri pointed out that this was one of a series of industrial projects by Adbic and an example of the public–private partnership model pursued by the company.

“This project with a strong and well established UAE Group puts UAE generated know-how and manufacturing excellence on the international map and will unlock new international markets.” he remarked.

Majid Al Gurair, CEO of Al Ghurair Group, said: 'We are excited to move forward with this new project as it is part of our ongoing thrust to expand into high-growth sectors.'

'Gulf Extrusions will play a very important role in nurturing Taweelah Aluminium Extrusion Company to be a key industry player and in maintaining the high standards of excellence in the production of premium-quality aluminium products,' he noted.

Modar Al Mekdad, general manager, Gulf Extrusions, said, 'This joint-venture underlines the immense growth potential of the Middle East’s aluminium industry and likewise reaffirms our commitment to further strengthen the region's reputation as a leading supplier in the global market.'

'A world-class, state-of-the-art facility such as Taweelah Aluminium Extrusion Company will be crucial in opening more business opportunities and creating new possibilities to cater to emerging demand in new markets,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service