Abu Dhabi: The UAE's moves to diversify the economy received a major boost yesterday with the inauguration of Emirates Aluminium's (Emal) smelter project in Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, inaugurated the smelter — a joint project of Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) and Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala).
On completion in 2013, Emal will be the world's biggest single-site smelter as it nearly doubles its current installed capacity, Saeed Fadhel Al Mazroui, Emal's president and chief executive officer, told reporters here yesterday.
The first phase of the smelter commenced operations in December 2009.
The smelter is one of the largest industrial projects in the country outside the oil and gas industry.
"The engineering study for Phase 2 is underway," said Al Mazroui on the sidelines of the function marking the official opening of the 750,000 tonnes a year aluminium smelter.
"When we finish the second phase, our production capacity will be close to 1.5 million tonnes per year," he said.
He added that by mid-2012 the capacity of phase I, which is currently operational, will be boosted by another 50,000 tonnes a year to 800,000 tonnes a year through "internal enhancement."
Earlier at the inauguration, Al Mazroui said the aluminium complex will supply products to 33 countries this year.
