EuroWire – November 2009
15
corporatenews
Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation (Adbic) and Bahrain’s
Midal Cables Limited have agreed to a joint project to establish
a $100-million plant to produce aluminium products, including
aluminium rods and aluminium electrical overhead conductors.
Capacity at the plant will be 150,000 tonnes per year, with
some of the output serving as feedstock for Abu Dhabi’s
downstream industries.
Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2010 at the
Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone in Taweelah, Abu Dhabi. “The
establishment of the aluminium plant is the first step towards
the development of Adbic’s upcoming metals cluster, which will
play a fundamental role in expanding Abu Dhabi’s downstream
manufacturing capacity in the metals sector,” an Adbic
statement said.
Strategically located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the cluster
will focus on base metals such as aluminium, steel and copper.
The joint venture agreement was signed by Jamal Al Dhaheri,
senior vice president for metals at Adbic, and Hamid Al Zayani,
managing director of Midal Cables.
“This partnership brings together the technical expertise of
one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aluminium rods and
conductors with the experience of one of the leading industrial
investment and development companies in the region,”
commented Al Dhaheri.
Al Zayani remarked: “This joint venture is strategically
important for Midal Cables. The rapid industrial growth in the
UAE and GCC region requires expertise in the field of aluminium
production. “Working with a leading investment and industrial
development company like Adbic further drives the growth of
this key sector.”
Adbic and Midal Cables also signed a memorandum of
understanding with Emirates Aluminium Company Limited
(Emal) for the supply of molten aluminium, the plant’s main
feedstock, from the new smelter. By the second quarter of
2011, Adbic’s plant will be ready to receive its first batch of
molten aluminium.
“Emal will play a fundamental role in supporting the
development of Adbic’s metals cluster,” said Al Dhaheri. “This
partnership not only helps to drive Adbic’s contribution to
Abu Dhabi’s industrial diversification, it also leverages Emal’s
planned aluminium upstream production capacity, which will
commence at 700,000 tonnes per year in the first quarter of 2010.”
Abu Dhabi Basic Industries Corporation – Abu Dhabi
:
info@adbic.comWebsite
:
www.adbic.comMidal Cables Ltd – Bahrain
:
midalcbl@midalcable.comWebsite
:
www.midalcable.comAdbic and Midal in joint plant project