Gulf Construction Online - $200m aluminium extrusion plant on way

UAE Focus

Al Ghurair and Al Dhaheri sign the agreement.

$200m aluminium extrusion plant on way

01 June 2011

A NEW state-of-the-art aluminium extrusion plant is to be built in Abu Dhabi at a cost of $200 million.

The Taweelah Aluminium Extrusion Company will be the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region according to the project’s developers.

It will be the first industrial project to be launched in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) after the Emirates Aluminium (Emal) aluminium smelter.

The extrusion plant is being set up by Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation (Adbic), wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi government’s General Holding Corporation (GHC), and Gulf Extrusions, an Al Ghurair Group company.

The joint venture was signed by Adbic CEO Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri and Al Ghurair Group CEO Majid Al Ghurair.

Kizad, with its massive 417 sq km of prime industrial land and world-class facilities, is conveniently located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and is a statement of intent by the government of Abu Dhabi, creating a wealth of opportunities on a global scale.

The new 50,000-tonne plant will be built on a 235,000 sq m plot of land adjacent to Emal smelter, one of the largest greenfield aluminium smelter ever built, and one of the largest industrial projects in the UAE outside the oil and gas sector.

The feedstock of liquid aluminium and aluminium billets will be supplied by Emal.

Taweelah Aluminium Extrusion Company will invest in world-class extrusion equipment and will produce a diversified product range of aluminium extruded profiles, fabricated profiles as well as substructures and systems.

The product range will be unique for any extruder in the region as it will cater to the industrial, automotive and transportation sectors as well as to the top-end building and construction projects, meeting the most stringent standards of local, regional and international customers.

“This project puts UAE-generated know-how and manufacturing excellence on the international map and will unlock new international markets,” said Al Dhaheri. “This is one of a series of industrial projects by Adbic and an example of the public-private partnership model pursued by us.”

Al Ghurair said: “We are excited to move forward with this new project as it is part of our ongoing thrust to expand into high-growth sectors. Gulf Extrusions will play a very important role in nurturing Taweelah Aluminium Extrusion Company to be a key industry player and in maintaining the high standards of excellence in the production of premium-quality aluminium products.”

Modar Al Mekdad, general manager, Gulf Extrusions, said: “This venture underlines the immense growth potential of the Middle East’s aluminium industry and likewise reaffirms our commitment to further strengthen the region’s reputation as a leading supplier in the global market.”

A world-class facility such as Taweelah Aluminium Extrusion Company will be crucial in opening more business opportunities and creating new possibilities to cater to emerging demand in new markets. “Gulf Extrusions is eager to offer its technical expertise and in-depth knowledge of the aluminium industry to help ensure the sustained growth and success of this joint venture,” he concluded.