EMIRATES Aluminium (Emal) has erected its first structural steel as part of its Phase Two expansion.

The special steel structures mark the latest milestone for the flagship industrial project of the UAE and bring the company a step closer to becoming one of the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelters. Once completed in 2014, the potline at the Al Taweelah site will be the longest in the world at 1.7 km.

Saeed Al Mazrooei, Emal president and CEO, said: “I am pleased to see Phase Two progressing on schedule. This milestone, which was achieved as per plan, is very critical to our first hot metal date.”

Yousuf Bastaki, Emal vice-president said: “The special steel structures are the first visible signs of the Phase Two expansion, bringing us yet another step closer to meeting the ambitious targets we have set ourselves. Emal is also pleased to co-operate with Emirates Steel who supplied the steel required for this expansion work.”

In total, it will take 120 of the specially designed structures to erect the additional 444 reductions pots required to expand production to 1.3 million tonnes per year (tpy). The advanced smelter currently produces 750,000 tonnes of aluminium annually.

It will take around one year to complete the installation of all 120 structures.