Mideast aluminium industry in strong expansion stage

The Middle East’s aluminium industry, spearheaded by companies like Emirates Global Aluminium is entering a stage of strong expansion, both in primary production and downstream development.

Mr Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei energy minister of UAE highlighted the importance of EGA and the greater aluminium sector to the local economy at the recently concluded 29th International Aluminium Conference in Abu Dhabi.

The event brought together more than 500 key industry decision-makers from around the world. It was organised by Metal Bulletin and hosted by EGA, the jointly-owned aluminium conglomerate formed by Mubadala Development Corporation and Investment Corporation of Dubai by integrating their aluminium industry assets.

Mr Al Mazrouei said that “From the early days of our union, aluminium was identified as the metal of the future and the industry of the future. Today, aluminium stands as a flagship industry in our nation’s development and on-going diversification.”

Meanwhile, Mr Abdulla Kalban, MD of EGA, sketched the growth of the sector since the onset of the global economic crisis in 2008, highlighting its successes against the odds.

Mr Kalban said that “The GCC then had two smelters - Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), which produced 1.92 million tonne per annum. However, today there are six smelters in the GCC, with an annual production capacity of 5 million tonne per annum all operating at full capacity.”

He said that “The future of the Middle East aluminium industry remains bright. In the primary aluminum sector, further capacity expansions have been announced by four of the GCC smelters that will collectively add another 2.25 million tonnes to the region’s annual production capacity.”

He added that “The downstream aluminium industry is also expanding, thanks to strong progress in local infrastructure development, increasing demand in international markets and the pro-active development of aluminium clusters, The growth of both sectors heralds more job creation opportunities, which will contribute further to the social and economic development of the region.”

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