GE receives $500m contract to supply power equipment for world's largest single-site aluminum complex

The Emirates Aluminum (EMAL) production facility is located close to the Arabian Gulf near Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Using natural gas as its primary fuel, the power plant will feature Frame 9FA gas turbines, C7 steam turbines, heat recovery steam generators and condensers, all provided by GE Energy.

When phase one of the project is complete, the site will have an installed capacity of more than 2,000 megawatts of electricity to be used in the production of 700,000 tons of aluminum per annum.

Total production capacity during phase two will reach 1.4 million tons of aluminum, providing an example of technological advancement in the UAE as well as a cornerstone for the ongoing development of the region's industrial sector.

Joseph Anis, GE Energy's region executive for the Middle East said:

"Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Oman are investing billions of dollars to build smelters, utilizing the region's abundant and relatively inexpensive natural gas as a primary source for power generation. EMAL's world class, green-field complex will set new standards for the aluminum industry in the Middle East."

"Over the past year we have seen a growing number of opportunities in the Middle East and worldwide where we can apply our gas turbine technology for projects where the power is primarily used by our customers for industrial processes," Anis added. "The EMAL project illustrates our ongoing commitment to supply gas turbines with the reliability and flexibility to meet the demands of these applications."

SNC- Lavalin of Canada and Worley Parsons of Australia have formed a joint partnership to serve as the engineering, procurement and construction management contractors for the project.

"This project is a cornerstone of the enhanced industrial sector that is planned to help pursue Abu Dhabi's vision for a diverse and sustainable economy," said Duncan Hedditch, CEO of EMAL. "The companies supporting this project, such as GE, all have solid records for implementing successful projects in the past."

In addition to benefiting the UAE economy, EMAL is committed to the environment and making sure the production facility meets environmental standards set by the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency.

The EMAL project further expands GE Energy's growing presence in Abu Dhabi and the region. "The Middle East is one of the most important growth areas for GE Energy in the world today," noted Anis. "Since the end of 2006, we have announced more than $4bn in projects across the region."

GE Energy has been active in the Middle East since the 1930s, and today has regional offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Egypt, along with local service centers in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. The company also has opened power plant offices in the region to oversee local projects.