Qatalum is Qatar's first aluminium smelter and started production in 2009. It was also the first smelter worldwide ordering anAC/DC conversion substation able to be operated at 1750VDC.

The rectiformer substations were handed over, for commercial use, to Qatalum in September and October 2009.

* This is a longer version of an article which appeared in the Primary feature of AIT November/December 2010.