The project to build the largest aluminium smelter in the world in the UAE is swiftly going ahead and officials are happy with the pace of the progress, it was announced.

The world-class greenfield aluminium smelter complex is coming up at the Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone in Abu Dhabi.
The fourth joint steering committee (JSC) for developing the smelter, with a capacity of around 1.4 million tonnes per annum, held its meeting to review the progress of the $6 billion Emirates Aluminium Limited (Emal) joint venture between Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Development Company.
The committee also discussed further steps needed to advance the prestigious project to its next crucial stage.
Dubal is providing technology and management resources to the project.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Mubadala Development CEO and managing director Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak and Dubal CEO Abdullah Jasim bin Kalban. Senior officials from both the organizations took part in the talks.
The meeting reviewed among others, the results and different aspects of the feasibility study and environmental impact assessment (EIA) conducted by SNC-Lavalin, the details of gas supply contract for the project, land lease, engineering details and the master plan of the port including the exclusive berth for use by Emal.
Senior officials at the meeting also approved the corporate identity and the manpower and resources required to take the project through its various phases.
The two sides are working together on the project execution strategy and assessed the status and options for the front end engineering design (FEED) and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract.
“The Abu Dhabi government is committed to the supply of gas to the aluminum smelter project in Taweelah,” said Al Mubarak.
“In addition, Emal has secured a 6 sq km site for the smelter complex and a captive berth from the Sheikh Khalifa Industrial Zone and Port authorities,” he said.
The first phase of the project will be operational in 2010 with around 700,000-tonnes per year (tpy) capacity. When all phases are completed, the smelter will have 1.4 million tpy capacity, which will make it the largest single site aluminium smelter in the world.
The ownership of the project is to be shared equally between Dubal and Mubadala as per the joint protocol signed in February this year.