Ma'aden Alcoa Aluminum JV pours first alumina refinery in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH (Scrap Monster): The Ma'aden Alcoa (NYSE: AA) aluminum joint venture has poured the first concrete in the construction of the region’s first alumina refinery at the fully integrated aluminum complex at Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia.

Once complete, the refinery will initially produce 1.8 million metric tonnes of smelter-grade alumina per year. In another first within the Kingdom, the refinery will utilize a technologically advanced, engineered natural system to treat, recycle and conserve significant volumes of water.

The refinery was highly symbolic of the Kingdom’s emerging strength as a competitor in the regional and global aluminum industry, said Engineer Abdullah Busfar, chairman of the board of directors of Ma’aden Aluminium Company.

“We have everything we need to develop a fully integrated aluminum industry within Saudi Arabia. In Ma’aden itself we have the experience and local knowledge required to develop the bauxite reserves and the other natural resources needed for feedstocks. We have the support and leadership of the Government. And we have a partnership with Alcoa that is accelerating the development of the skills and technology required to build out this complex and the downstream opportunities it will create,” he added.

Ken Wisnoski, Alcoa Vice President and President of Alcoa’s Primary Products Growth group, added that the joint venture’s commitment to world-class design and low operating costs was apparent throughout the complex.

“The refinery, as with the smelter and the rolling mill, will be based on best-in-class technologies and operating practices. Conserving resources is crucial to maintenance of low operating costs and, as with the other facilities within this complex, this refinery has numerous advantages designed to reduce its demand on energy and other natural resources, such as water. We’re pouring concrete today as the foundation for a long-term, highly competitive, low-cost and sustainable operation,” Wisnoski said.

Ma’aden President and CEO Khalid Al Mudaifer commended the project team for their ingenuity in applying measures to protect the environment. He also highlighted the project’s role in creating new careers for Saudi nationals and developing a local supplier program to benefit communities near the future operations.

The complex’s smelter and rolling mill are scheduled to begin production in 2013. The mine and refinery will follow in 2014.