GE signs $200m EMAL smelter contract

GE Energy, a unit of US conglomerate General Electric (GE), announced on Monday it had signed a $200m contract to supply Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) with services for its new aluminium smelter complex.

The multi-year contractual service agreement will support EMAL’s recent investment in GE gas turbines for the plant, which will become the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter once completed.

Equipped with emission control technologies, the turbines are intended to help EMAL lower its carbon footprint and meet the strict regulatory requirements set by the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, GE Energy said in a release.

“The reliable supply of power is key to the overall success of this milestone project, which will set new technology standards for the aluminum industry in the Middle East and help position the UAE as a leading player in this competitive global industry,” said John Krenicki, GE vice chairman, president and CEO of GE Energy Infrastructure.

GE Energy announced last July it was supplying Frame 9FA gas turbines, C7 steam turbines, heat recovery steam generators and condensers for the project.  

Equipment shipping began at the end of 2008, ahead of the complex starting operations in April 2010.

The Middle East was one of the most important growth areas for GE Energy, Krenicki said.

Since the end of 2006, the firm has announced more than $8bn in equipment and service agreements across the Middle East, with over 1,000 gas turbines installed.

Located close to the Arabian Gulf near Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, EMAL’s smelter is believed to be the UAE’s largest industrial project outside of the oil and gas sector.

Phase one of the project will have an installed capacity of more than 2,000 megawatts of electricity to be used in the production of 700,000 tonnes of aluminium per year.  Phase two will raise capacity to 1.4 million tonnes of aluminium per year.

EMAL’s agreement with GE covers the supply of parts, repairs and field services for planned and unplanned outages for the gas turbine-generators and accessory equipment, along with performance guarantees.

EMAL is a joint venture between Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (DUBAL) and Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala), a state owned company of the Abu Dhabi government.

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