GCC Aluminium Capacity Nears 5 million Metric Tonnes per year

Doha, August 01 (QNA) - The total production of aluminium smelters in the GCC countries will be 5 million metric tonnes a year, when Maaden smelter reaches its full capacity. Annual capacity of the GCC smelters are 880 thousand tonnes a year in Alba, 1002 thousand tonnes in DUBAL, 370 thousand tonnes in Sohar, 600 thousand tonnes in Qatalum, 750 thousand tonnes in EMAL, and 740 thousand tonnes in Maaden, Qatalum company said in a statement. The Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL 2012), which be held in Doha 20th 22nd November 2012, has received sponsorship from Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden), Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), and Sohar Aluminium Company in addition to a number of regional and international aluminium companies, including HATCH, FATA, Kuwait Industries Company Holding, ABB, and WAHL. This collective sponsorship and the increasing interest reflects the importance of ARABAL, which is the premier trade event for the Middle East s aluminium industry and the only conference in the world attended by every single primary aluminium manufacturer in the region. Therefore, it is the conference of choice for anyone interested in the Middle East aluminium industry. The story of aluminium in the GCC countries goes back to the early 1970s, when Bahrain s ALBA (Aluminium Bahrain) first blazed thetrail, becoming operational in 1971. Dubai followed suit, bringing Dubai Aluminium, or Dubal, online in 1979. The last four years have seen a flowering of the GCC s potential, with Oman s Sohar in 2008, Qatar s Qatalum and another smelter in Abu Dhabi in 2010, and Saudi Arabia s smelter which is scheduled to start operations in 2013. The 16th Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL 2012) will be held at the Grand Hyatt Doha under the patronage of HE Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, who is also the Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum. This year s edition of the conference will discuss a number of important issues related to aluminium industry, the technology in use, environmental effects, security and safety, manufacturing industries, market factors and their effects on aluminium prices, recycling, and many more important topics that will be addressed by over 30 renowned figures from various disciplines.(QNA)