Emal is expected to be the world’s single largest aluminium smelter complex with this project.
Production from the first phase of the $5.7bn project is expected to start by the end of the year and will reach full capacity of 700kt/y by December 2010.
The three-year contract will start next year. Ships will transport the alumina in lots of 60kt in modern ‘Panamax’ ships – the largest ships able to pass through the Panama Canal, it said.
The ships will initially unload at Jebel Ali port.
Source: Gulf Times, Doha; 19 Oct 2009