Emal planning to bolster output

DUBAI: State-owned Emirates Aluminium (Emal) plans to ramp up output at a giant new aluminium plant to over 700,000 tonnes by the end of next year, Emal's chief executive said yesterday. It would eventually be the largest single aluminium plant in the world with capacity of 1.4 million tonnes, expected to come fully online in 2013-2014. The first phase was due to start early next year, Duncan Hedditch said. "We're going to come on a little bit in excess of 700,000 tonnes," Hedditch said. "We're on track to start early next year and we'll ramp up to full production sometime by the end of 2010." source:www.gulf-daily-news.com