Abu Dhabi: Emirates Aluminium's (Emal) Taweelah-based smelter, which is on track to produce 750,000 tonnes of aluminium this year, was formally opened on Monday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in the presence of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
A colourful reception marked the opening of the smelter, which was attended among others by senior Emal representatives and dignitaries. Emal's phase 1 commenced operation on December 2, 2009.
Addressing guests at the event, Saeed Fadl Al Mazroui, Emal's president and chief executive, said: "As the UAE's largest industrial mega-project outside of oil and gas, Emal is leading the way in diversification. Emal is producing reliable, high quality aluminium for customers around the globe from one of the world's largest, most sustainable and technologically advanced smelters."
The $5.7-billion (Dh20.91 billion) joint venture between Dubai Aluminium and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company was established in February 2007 to construct what will become the world's largest single-site aluminium smelter complex.
"The creation of Emal has further reinforced the position of the UAE as a leading player in the global aluminium industry. Emal and its partners are also pursuing a portfolio of overseas investments in the aluminium value chain," the company said.
"We have 2,025 employees now, with 27 per cent of UAE nationals in engineering and management jobs and there are 11 per cent of nationals in the total workforce. We are aiming to have 75 per cent UAE nationals in the Emal management, with UAE nationals comprising 40 per cent of the total workforce by 2015," Al Mazroui told reporters.
"Emal is producing reliable, high quality aluminium for customers around the globe from one of the world's largest, most sustainable and technologically advanced smelters," Al Mazroui said.
High potential
The advanced greenfield smelter in Al Taweelah uses DX Reduction Cell Technology to produce 750,000 tonnes of aluminium annually with future potential to double output making it the largest smelter in the world.
Emal supplies 82 customers in 19 countries with high quality aluminium which is available as sow, standard ingots, sheet ingots and extrusion billets. The ISO9000-certified sow is 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 includes a 2,000 megawatt power plant, carbon plant and casthouse. A purpose-built wharf at Khalifa Port shortens the supply chain of raw materials direct from sea to smelter.
Al Mazroui also emphasised the many accomplishments Emal had made towards protecting the environment and benefiting the community. These include employing world class sustainable technology to reduce emissions in line with Environment Agency Abu Dhabi requirements to minimise carbon footprint and to ensure conservation of local species and habitat.
The aluminium complex is located on a 6 square km site in Khalifa Port Industrial Zone, half way between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
