Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Aluminium (Emal) said on Tuesday that construction had officially started on phase two of its $5.7bn smelter project.
A symbolic ground breaking ceremony marked the start of the Al Taweelah smelter’s second phase, with completion and full production planned to be reached in little more than two years, Emal said in a statement.
This will boost Emal’s total production capacity to around 1.3 million metric tonnes by the end of 2014, it added.
Emal’s board, shareholders and other VIP guests visited the site to witness the first step in the $4.5bn expansion.
Phase one was completed ahead of time and to budget, with the company supplying 280 customers in 36 countries with high quality aluminium.
Phase two will include the addition of a new potline and will result in the world’s longest ever single smelting line.
Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei, Emal president and CEO, said: “When complete, Emal will take its place as the largest and most advanced single-site producers of primary aluminium in the world, and one of the leading contributors to deliver a stable and prosperous Emirati future.”
Emal said in July it had received approval from its board for a $4.5bn investment that will almost double the aluminium smelter’s annual capacity.
Emal is a 50-50 joint venture between Dubai Aluminium Company Ltd and Mubadala Development Co, Abu Dhabi’s investment vehicle.
The company, which supplies customers in 36 countries, first started production from its $5.7bn project located at Al Taweelha in Abu Dhabi in January 2010.
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