OMAN TRIBUNE
S. Arabian bauxite to boost Gulf aluminium production
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
Aluminium production in the GCC will soon get a shot in the arm, thanks to the availability of bauxite from Saudi Arabia.
At present, GCC producers source the ore from countries such as Australia, a senior official at Sohar Aluminium told Oman Tribune.
“The GCC states currently produce 3.5 million tonnes of aluminium annually and it will soon produce an estimated 25 per cent of the world production,” said Hilal Al Hinai General Manager, commercial and corporate affairs, at Sohar Aluminium.
“The aluminium project by Ma’aden, a Saudi Arabian mining company, is aimed at exploiting the kingdom’s bauxite resources for domestic and world markets,” Hinai said.
Saudi Arabia’s aluminium project involves the development, design, construction and operation of two integrated sites Al Ba’itha in North Eastern Saudi Arabia and Ras Al Khair on the Arabian Gulf coast.
The Al Baitha site, which consists of a bauxite mine and ore handling facilities in north-eastern Saudi Arabia, expects production at a mining rate of 4 million tonnes per annum of bauxite for over 30 years, according to the Ma’aden website.
The Ras Al Khair site is proposed to be used for the construction of the alumina refinery, aluminium smelter, rolling mill and related infrastructure for the Aluminium Complex.
Bauxite ore transported by rail to Ras Al Khair will be refined to produce 1.8 million mtpy of alumina, which will in turn be processed to produce 740,000 million tones per year of aluminium.
At present, GCC producers source the ore from countries such as Australia, a senior official at Sohar Aluminium told Oman Tribune.
“The GCC states currently produce 3.5 million tonnes of aluminium annually and it will soon produce an estimated 25 per cent of the world production,” said Hilal Al Hinai General Manager, commercial and corporate affairs, at Sohar Aluminium.
“The aluminium project by Ma’aden, a Saudi Arabian mining company, is aimed at exploiting the kingdom’s bauxite resources for domestic and world markets,” Hinai said.
Saudi Arabia’s aluminium project involves the development, design, construction and operation of two integrated sites Al Ba’itha in North Eastern Saudi Arabia and Ras Al Khair on the Arabian Gulf coast.
The Al Baitha site, which consists of a bauxite mine and ore handling facilities in north-eastern Saudi Arabia, expects production at a mining rate of 4 million tonnes per annum of bauxite for over 30 years, according to the Ma’aden website.
The Ras Al Khair site is proposed to be used for the construction of the alumina refinery, aluminium smelter, rolling mill and related infrastructure for the Aluminium Complex.
Bauxite ore transported by rail to Ras Al Khair will be refined to produce 1.8 million mtpy of alumina, which will in turn be processed to produce 740,000 million tones per year of aluminium.
Previous article
Raman Singh to visit US to invite investors
Next articleBauxite prices to go up post new mines bill
Grow with
AL Circle
