Production from the smelter and rolling mill will start in 2013 and output from the mine and refinery in 2014. Maaden will own 60% of the joint venture, with Alcoa and its partners the remainder.
In its initial phase, the JV will develop an integrated industrial complex including a 4Mt/y bauxite mine, a 1.8Mt/y alumina refinery and an aluminium smelter with a hot-mill capacity of between 250kt and 460kt/y.
The mill will focus on the production of sheet, end and tab stock for the manufacture of aluminium cans and potentially other products to serve the construction industry. The refinery, smelter and rolling mill will be established within the industrial zone of Ras As Zawr on the east coast of the country.
The complex will use infrastructure including low-cost and clean power generation, as well as port and railroad facilities developed by the government. Bauxite feedstock for the planned alumina factory will be transported by rail from a new mine at Al-Baitha near Quiba in the north.
The project will be developed and financed in two phases with the rolling mill and smelter in the first phase.