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ALUMINIUM MI DDL E EAST
plant and animal life. Today Dubal has a wellestablished
green belt that is home to 1,840
trees, including species that are pollutantsensitive,
thus providing an early warning system
for higher than expected emission levels.
At year-end it was also reported that to date
a total of 143 employees have worked at Dubal
for three decades.
Dubal is playing an active role in specific
initiatives to fulfil DIES 2030 – notably
through an investment of AED20m in the
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park, as
released by the Dubai Supreme Council of
Energy in February 2012. Phase I of the
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park will
yield 10 MW by 2013, and the project will
be scaled-up in successive phases to produce
1,000 MW by 2030. In addition, Dubal is participating
in a feasibility study relating to the
establishment of clean coal-fired power stations
in the United Arab Emirates.
Egypt
In a country still suffering from political instability
and an uncertain future, Egyptian
state aluminium producer Egyptalum remains
upbeat about its own outlook. The company
is moving ahead with plans to increase its
production from 320,000 tpy to full capacity
of 400,000 tpy. A specific time frame has yet
to be set out, meanwhile, as concerns remain
over increases of power tariffs in Egypt.
The situation in the country has generally
improved, however, as transport routes between
Egyptalum’s base in Nag Hammady and
the port in Alexandria, from which it ships its
material, are also gradually reopening.
The increase in energy tariffs was a result
of financial difficulties in Egypt. This is true
of businesses across Egypt, as the increase in
electricity prices adds significantly to the cost
of production. As part of an industry with
intensive energy consumption, aluminium
companies currently pay 27.3 piaster (4.5
US cents) per kWh, compared with Kima, the
Egyptian chemical industry company, which
pays 4.7 piaster per kWh.
The company has also been affected by a
lack of subsidies for the aluminium industry
overall.
Security risks also continue to pose problems
for Egyptalum and for its peers, as well
as the decline in LME aluminium prices. Rising
raw material costs have also placed a burden
on the industry in Egypt.
Egyptalum is a significant producer and
supplier of aluminium and aluminium products
in the Gulf region, and is not burdened
by import tariffs. Profits after tax for the
full year 2010-11 were up 35% compared
with the period a year earlier, to E£479.8m
(USD79.5m). Egyptal’s main markets are
Europe, the US, some Arab and some Asian
countries and Turkey.
Qatar
Qatalum signed an ocean transport agreement
with the National Shipping Company of Saudi
Arabia (NSCSA). The deal ensures the unimpeded
distribution of extrusion ingots over
six metres long to markets, covering shipment
sizes of 3,000-6,000 tonnes. This agreement
is part of a growing number of developments
for Qatalum seeking to capitalise on the global
move of aluminium production and expertise
from the West to Asia, with Qatar contributing
to the GCC’s expansion.
Qatalum improved its US distribution in
2012 after signing a new shipping contract.
In February 2012, the company confirmed it
would increase the amount of billet shipped to
North America, amid strong demand. A total
of around 110,000 tonnes was planned to be
shipped to North America, up from around
70,000 to 80,000 tonnes in 2011.
A new cooperation strengthens research
on aluminium in Qatar and establishes ties
across borders. Students and professors at the
Qatar University and the Norwegian University
of Science and Technology (NTNU) meet
with representatives from Qatar Petroleum
and Hydro, which together own Qatalum. All
take an interest in aluminium, and are eager
to develop more knowledge about the properties
and potential applications of the multifaceted
metal.
Qatalum recently released its first sustainability
report which details the company’s approach,
perspective and progress on several
sustainability indicators. The report goes into
specific details of the ‘Qatalum Way’ – a clear
mission supported by values and principles
collectively reflected in Qatalum’s governance
and integrated management systems; the
Qatarisation policy that seeks to increase the
number of local hires; the international management
systems which Qatalum has incorporated
into its assessment structures (ISO 9001:
Quality Management System; ISO/TS 16949:
Automotive Industry Specific Quality Management
System; OHSAS 18001: Occupational
Health and Safety Management Systems;
and ISO 14001: Environmental Management
System); and extensive HSE commitments
ABB wins order to upgrade
Qatalum’s power infrastructure
All of Qatalum‘s production will be shipped in the form of value-added, alloyed casthouse products
ABB won an order worth USD16m from Qatalum
early in 2012, for upgrading the power
distribution network at its aluminium smelter.
The project includes re-engineering and reinforcement
of the existing distribution system
to help increase availability and reliability of
power supply to key areas such as the substations,
electrical equipment, server rooms,
office buildings and workshop. The project is
scheduled for completion by 2013.
ABB has previously supplied the electrical
equipment for the power plant as well as the
220 kV gas-insulated switchgear substation
for Qatalum.
ABB also won a USD9m contract from
OARC in 2012. The full service concept comprises
the entire maintenance function at the
company’s rolling mill plant in Sohar.
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