DUBAL, EMAL share technology developments at specialist forum

The technology development expertise of Dubai Aluminium Corporation (DUBAL), the entirely state-owned enterprise whose Jebel Ali operation ranks among the world’s largest single-site smelters; and Emirates Aluminium Company (EMAL), the green-field smelter development at Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, owned jointly by DUBAL and Mubadala Development Company, has again been communicated at global industry level. This time, the forum was the 10^th Australasian Aluminium Smelting Technology Conference, which took place at Hotel Grand Chancellor in Launceston, Tasmania from 9 to 14 October 2011. 

Four papers detailing research and development projects at DUBAL were presented at the conference. Two were presented by Maryam Mohamed Al Jallaf (Senior Manager: Process Control, Potrooms and Cell Lining), namely:

“Pushing the frontiers of anode current density at DUBAL” – by Ali H A M Al Zarouni, Maryam Mohamed Al Jallaf and Arvind Kumar; and

“Impact of TiB₂ granules on cathode wear and metal quality” – by Maryam Mohamed Al Jallaf, Margaret Hyland, Barry Welch and Ali H A M Al Zarouni. 

The other two DUBAL papers were presented by Abdalla Al Zarouni (Senior Manager: Technology Development), namely:

“DUBAL high amperage cell technology; From DX to DX+” – by Ali H A M Al Zarouni, Abdalla Al Zarouni, Nadia Ahli, Lalit Mishra, B Kakkar, David Spencer and Michel Reverdy; and

“DUBAL experience of low voltage PFC emissions” – by Ali H A M Al Zarouni and Abdalla Al Zarouni. 

In addition to the four papers above, David Spencer of EMAL presented “Commissioning of EMAL Smelter,” – by Salman Dawood Abdulla, Walid Al Sayed, B K Kakkar and David Spencer. 

Furthermore, DUBAL and EMAL sponsored the welcome reception for delegates to the event, which took place on the evening of 8 October 2011. Speaking at the reception, Maryam Mohamed Al Jallaf reiterated that the DUBAL-EMAL corporate strategy-driven vision is to produce 2.5 million tonnes per annum by 2015. She also emphasised that DUBAL continually invests both in developing new technology and upgrading existing technologies (specifically D18 and D20) so as to maintain a competitive edge. DUBAL’s capabilities in the transfer of technology was also highlighted, using EMAL Phase I to illustrate the point. 

Reflecting on the conference as a whole, Ali H A M Al Zarouni (Vice President: Smelting Operations), said that the year’s meeting offered a credible forum for sharing technology-related information with an international audience representing diverse stakeholder groups. “As a company, we thrive on innovation and collaboration,” he says. “Global events – such as the Australasian Aluminium Technology Conference – always provide a great opportunity for us both to learn from others and share our own expertise, which in turn raises awareness of DUBAL and EMAL’s technology-related capabilities.”