Oman Aluminium Rolling Company said it has awarded Italian group Fata a $300 million Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for its rolling plant in Sohar, Oman.

The 160,000 tonne facility will contain a Hazelett continuous caster, while Fata Hunter will supply a hot rolling mill along with cold rolling and finishing equipment, said a company statement.

Oman Aluminium Rolling Company is set to break ground on the project in July with the first production coils targeted for August 2013, it added.

The rolling mill will serve the aluminium food container and food preservation foil markets, along with material for the automotive heat exchanger and air conditioning markets, said Fata EPC, a division of Fata located in Turin, Italy.

The mill is being supplied molten metal from Sohar Aluminium Company which is located next door.

Under an interim agreement, Fata said it had begun the engineering works in January 2011. Fata estimates the employment levels during construction will peak at approximately 1,200 persons.-TradeArabia News Service