Emal second phase study gets under way

Emirates Aluminium (Emal) has started a pre-feasibility study for the second phase of the giant single-site aluminium smelter complex. Emal is a joint venture between Dubai Aluminium Company Limited and Mubadala Development Company. Canada's SNC Lavalin and Australia's WorleyParsons are conducting the pre-feasibility study. The duo has been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction management contract to build the first phase of the smelter. The project will be built in two phases and utilise Emirati-developed technology. According to Emal CEO Duncan Hedditch, the study for the world’s largest single site aluminium smelter complex, is expected to be completed in the first half of 2009. 'The feasibility study will assist us in firming up details related to timing. The scale of projects such as the Emal smelter are 50-year developments, allowing us to take a long-term view on prices and this means the current value of commodities will not have any effect on the timeline of the Emal smelter complex,” Hedditch added. The study gets underway even as the construction of the first phase of the smelter complex continues in readiness for commencing metal production in the first quarter of 2010. -TradeArabia News Service