Prysmian awarded high voltage cables supply contract by Emirates Aluminum Company worth over $33.4m

Prysmian, the worldwide leading player in the power and TLC cables industry, announced today at the Middle East Electricity Exhibition that it has signed an EPC (Engineering Procurement Construction) contract worth in excess of $33.4m with contract with Emirates Aluminum Company Ltd. (EMAL) for the supply and installation of high voltage cables and systems for the world's largest aluminum smelter facility, under construction in Taweelah Area, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

'This major contract announcement is further proof of the massive business potential of the Middle East region,' said Sarah Woodbridge, Group Director - Exhibitions, IIR Middle East, the organisers of Middle East Electricity. 'With every sector of the energy industry currently in the midst of intense essential development, we anticipate further announcements during the show.'

Prysmian will supply 22 km of 400 kV cable, including one cable circuit, interconnection between Transco network in Taweelah and EMAL smelter and 20 km of 220 kV cables, 21 cable circuits and connections within the EMAL smelter. The first cable connection is scheduled for the end of 2008, while the last will be energised in January 2010.

This contract has been achieved through Prysmian's strong focus on customer needs and its delivery of a wide range of high quality, technologically advanced products for many of the most challenging projects in the region. This is also supported by Prysmian's 100+ years of systems engineering experience worldwide.

When complete, the new smelter will have a total annual capacity of 1.4 million tons per year, and the project will go a long way toward supplying the shortfall in world aluminium supply. The initial construction management contract for the new facility was awarded to engineering firms SNC-Lavalin of Canada and Worley Parsons of Australia.

With this contract, Prysmian is set to further strengthen its business in the Middle East region, where it is already carrying out important power cable projects, particularly in UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. The Middle East is a key area for Prysmian's expansion strategy, particularly in high value-added markets, where special products and services are required, including extra high voltage and submarine cables and systems, industrial cables for the Oil & Gas Industry (on-shore and off-shore) and fire resistant cables for constructions.

In the Middle East region Prysmian has offices and facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE) Doha (Qatar), Manama (Bahrain) and Kuwait. The most important project Prysmian is currently involved in is the construction of the submarine high voltage power connection between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, with the GCCIA (Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority). Other relevant projects are: Fujairah (UAE) and Doha (QATAR) main Transmission Projects (high voltage power cables); Pearl GTL, the bigger Oil and Gas project started in 2006 in Qatar, and Ras Laffan Gasfield Downstram Development in Qatar, (Industrial cables); Burj Dubai, the highest tower in the world (Fire Protection power cables) - Palm Island Dubai - Logo Island interconnection (submarine medium voltage power cables).

Visitor traffic over the first two days of Middle East Electricity 2008, internationally recognised as the power behind the Middle East Energy industry, and rated by exhibitors and visitors as the world's leading event of its kind, has shown a significant increase over 2007 - the show, which covers 34,000 square metres, is 17% larger than last year and features over 900 exhibitors from 55 countries plus 20 country pavilions.

Middle East Electricity 2008, which runs through until Wednesday 13th February at Dubai International Exhibition Centre, is supported by the Federal Electricity and Water Authority and sponsored by C&S Controls and Switchgear, Clipsal, Eaton, Havells Sylvania, Jengan and Jubaili Brothers. The show is open from 10am to 6pm - admission is free for trade professionals.