ID :
209333
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 22:14
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http://m.oananews.org//node/209333
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Qatalum Reaches Full Production Capacity of 585,000 Tonnes
Doha, September 25 (QNA) - Qatalum achieved its full production capacity of 585,000 tons on September 21, 2011. The world class smelter is serving global customers through its value added product cast house.
"We are excited to be entering this new phase at Qatalum, moving from the ramp-up phase to full production. It has been a challenging goal that both owners have been striving towards. We ve experienced setbacks, but these have contributed in creating the current strong team that, together, will bring operational excellence to the forefront," said Qatalum CEO Tom Petter Johansen in a statement posted on its website.
This historic achievement will support Qatalum s vision of becoming a sustainable economic catalyst, using Qatar's gas energy to create valuable commodity aluminium.
With a first phase production capacity of 585,000 metric tonnes per year from 704 cells, Qatalum will enable Qatar to contribute a significant portion towards GCC aluminium production. In addition, due to aluminium's excellent recyclability and the leading-edge, low environmental impact technology used by Qatalum, the smelter will be one of the most environmentally efficient plants constructed to date.
"I would like to reaffirm Qatalum’s commitment to draw continuously closer to fulfilling Qatar s National Vision of 2030, and we look forward to building the country s fledgling aluminium industry to make it one of the world’s significant aluminium producers. More than that, we look forward to creating a future of opportunities for the community by setting the standard in operational excellence and maintaining environmental integrity," added Khalid Mohamed Laram, Qatalum s Deputy CEO. During 2011, Qatalum reached various milestones on its way towards full operation. In January, the plant had ramped up 352 cells the whole of potline two and half of the plant s total capacity. This was followed, in June, by approval from the London Metal Exchange (LME) Executive Committee as an LME deliverable brand.
In August, the last section of the two potlines became fully energised. Most significantly, the captive 1350 MW Power Plant was fully commissioned and constituted to reliable power being supplied for the operation of all 704 pots.
Qatalum is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Norsk Hydro ASA, each holding 50 percent. The partners signed a heads of agreement in December 2004 and the present joint venture was established in March 2006. The final approval for plant construction was given on July 19 2007. Construction activities commenced shortly after that.
Primary aluminium production will take place in two long buildings each approximately 1,150 m in length, called pot rooms. Each pot room will house two rows of 176 cells, giving a total of 352 cells in each pot room, and 704 cells in the first phase. Phase one production capacity of the reduction plant will be 585,000 tons per annum.
All of Qatalum's production will be shipped in the form of value-added, alloyed cast house products. The extrusion ingot cast house will have a capacity of 350,000 tonnes per year. The primary foundry alloys cast house will have a capacity of 275,000 tons per year.
"We are excited to be entering this new phase at Qatalum, moving from the ramp-up phase to full production. It has been a challenging goal that both owners have been striving towards. We ve experienced setbacks, but these have contributed in creating the current strong team that, together, will bring operational excellence to the forefront," said Qatalum CEO Tom Petter Johansen in a statement posted on its website.
This historic achievement will support Qatalum s vision of becoming a sustainable economic catalyst, using Qatar's gas energy to create valuable commodity aluminium.
With a first phase production capacity of 585,000 metric tonnes per year from 704 cells, Qatalum will enable Qatar to contribute a significant portion towards GCC aluminium production. In addition, due to aluminium's excellent recyclability and the leading-edge, low environmental impact technology used by Qatalum, the smelter will be one of the most environmentally efficient plants constructed to date.
"I would like to reaffirm Qatalum’s commitment to draw continuously closer to fulfilling Qatar s National Vision of 2030, and we look forward to building the country s fledgling aluminium industry to make it one of the world’s significant aluminium producers. More than that, we look forward to creating a future of opportunities for the community by setting the standard in operational excellence and maintaining environmental integrity," added Khalid Mohamed Laram, Qatalum s Deputy CEO. During 2011, Qatalum reached various milestones on its way towards full operation. In January, the plant had ramped up 352 cells the whole of potline two and half of the plant s total capacity. This was followed, in June, by approval from the London Metal Exchange (LME) Executive Committee as an LME deliverable brand.
In August, the last section of the two potlines became fully energised. Most significantly, the captive 1350 MW Power Plant was fully commissioned and constituted to reliable power being supplied for the operation of all 704 pots.
Qatalum is a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Norsk Hydro ASA, each holding 50 percent. The partners signed a heads of agreement in December 2004 and the present joint venture was established in March 2006. The final approval for plant construction was given on July 19 2007. Construction activities commenced shortly after that.
Primary aluminium production will take place in two long buildings each approximately 1,150 m in length, called pot rooms. Each pot room will house two rows of 176 cells, giving a total of 352 cells in each pot room, and 704 cells in the first phase. Phase one production capacity of the reduction plant will be 585,000 tons per annum.
All of Qatalum's production will be shipped in the form of value-added, alloyed cast house products. The extrusion ingot cast house will have a capacity of 350,000 tonnes per year. The primary foundry alloys cast house will have a capacity of 275,000 tons per year.
