Emirates Aluminum (EMAL), established to construct the world's largest single-site aluminium production facility, has awarded a $200 million (AED700 million) contract to Alstom for the supply of its gas treatment centers (GTCs). The deal is the largest of its kind in the aluminum industry and secures the use of Alstom's global, best-practice technology to reduce both fluoride and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions as a core part of EMAL's focus toward strict environmental controls. As a landmark joint venture between Dubai Aluminum Company (DUBAL) and Mubadala Development Company (MUBADALA), the investment reflects EMAL's commitment, both as a key player in the UAE's economy and towards raising global smelting standards. EMAL CEO Duncan Hedditch said “this significant investment shows how seriously EMAL is taking its environmental commitment. The smelter's GTCs will utilize some of the most environmentally sound technology currently available in the market.” EMAL's entry into the market will further establish the Middle East as a primary production center, to help meet growing world aluminum demand. The 6km² production facility in Taweelah, near Abu Dhabi, is currently being built in two phases and is set to become the world's fifth largest aluminum producer. At full capacity, it will boast an output of 1.4 million tons of primary aluminum for the world's manufacturing, packaging and construction sectors. Phase One, to be completed by 2010, will have a production output of 700,000 tons. During the construction phase, approximately 10,000 local and international contractors and laborers will be employed. When fully operational, approximately 2,000 people will be directly employed on an ongoing basis. EMAL will provide the catalyst for further jobs creation through community infrastructure development and downstream industries. Gregoire Poux-Guillame, managing director of Environment Control Systems for Alstom said “Alstom is honored to work collectively with EMAL to take significant steps towards environmentally sound aluminum production.” Alstom GTCs are responsible for conducting fluoride and alumina recovery, SO² scrubbing as well as power generation. Alstom will be responsible for a turnkey supply of the plants (excluding civil engineering works) that includes all aspects from design to erection, as well as commissioning of the performance tests. Each GTC at EMAL will consist of 32 compartments, with the total filtration area for each GTC corresponding in size to approximately eight soccer fields. __
