UAE smelters to have strong presence at Arabal 2012

Reflecting their common commitment to the development of the Middle East as a global aluminium hub, the key players in the UAE's primary aluminium industry — Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) and Emirates Aluminium Company Limited (Emal) — will participate in the 16th International Arab Aluminium Conference and Exhibition (Arabal 2012).

The event will be hosted by Qatalum in Doha, Qatar from 20 to 22 November this year and the first day will feature a panel comprising the presidents and chief executive officers of the Gulf aluminium smelters.

Dubal and Emal's participation will be at two main levels. Firstly the line-up of speakers will include Dubal's Abdalla Al Zarouni (Senior Manager: Technology Development), whose presentation entitled "Dubal Technologies: serving the Gulf region" will showcase the exceptional performance of Dubal's advanced, high amperage DX and DX+ Technologies, both of which have been developed to operate optimally in the Gulf climate. Using actual results from the existing industrial installations of DX Technology (40 cells in Dubal, 756 cells at Emal) and the pilot DX+ Technology cells, Al Zarouni's presentation will demonstrate how Dubal's technologies are successfully addressing the growing need for lower energy consumption, reduced atmospheric emissions and improved productivity. Al Zarouni will also share Dubal's successful pilot project to retrofit an existing potline, using modern technologies.

Secondly, Dubal and Emal will have a combined display stand in the exhibition held alongside Arabal 2012. Again, attention will be focused on the benefits of Dubal's proprietary reduction cell technologies; as well as the two companies' combined product portfolio. The Dubal Marketing & Sales department is responsible for marketing the metal produced by Emal (288,568 metric tonnes of cast aluminium in 2010, and 748,000 metric tonnes in 2011) in addition to Dubal's own sales, which exceeded one million tonnes in both years.

An entirely state-owned enterprise, Dubal owns and operates a one million metric tonne per annum primary aluminium smelter at Jebel Ali, Dubai — one of the largest single-site operations of its kind in the world. The company is renowned internationally for its premium purity, high quality products and services; as well as its commitment to sustainable development through conscious efforts to maximise the health and safety people, reduce the impact of its operations on the environment, and invest in the social and economic development of the community. Dedicated programmes support the Emiratization goals of the UAE, including targeted recruitment, skills development, management training and strategic career planning. Approximately 92 per cent of Dubal's annual production is exported globally, the company's key markets being Asia, Europe, the Middle East North Africa ("MENA") region and the Americas.

Emal, a 50:50 joint venture between Dubal and Mubadala, was established in February 2007 to construct the world's largest single-site aluminium smelter complex. The project is being built in two Phases. Commissioning of Emal Phase I, with a total capacity of 750,000 metric tonnes per annum, took place between 1 December 2009 and 31 December 2010. The company already enjoys a strong reputation for sound safety management, wellbeing programmes for its employees and adopting global best practices to minimize its environmental footprint — the latter entrenched through the implementation of Dubal DX Reduction Technology, which offers enhanced energy efficiency and productivity levels yet lower environmental emissions than comparative technologies. These attributes are complemented by initiatives to harness Emirati talent through job-creation, engaging the community in corporate activities and celebrating the national and cultural heritage of the UAE.

Emal Phase II was announced in July 2011. A new 444-cell potline is being built which, together with a technology upgrade of the existing cells (already completed), will increase Emal's annual production capacity to around 1.3 million metric tonnes by the end of 2014. The new generation, enhanced Dubal DX+ Technology has been licensed for Emal Phase II.

Dubal has been involved in the Arabal Conference and Exhibitions since their inauguration in 1983; and is the first aluminium producer in the region to host four of Arabal events to date: 1987, 1995, 2001 and 2008. The latter coincided with Arabal's 25th anniversary, giving Dubal the rare privilege of hosting the silver jubilee year of this internationally-acclaimed event. Emal participated at Arabal for the first time in 2008. Both companies serve on the Arabal Forum, a committee of representatives from the primary aluminium producers in the Gulf that is tasked with organizing the Arabal events.