UAE’s primary aluminium industry again promoted in Europe

The profile of the UAE’s primary aluminium industry has again been successfully raised in the European market, this time through the joint participation of Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (“DUBAL”) and Emirates Aluminium Company Limited (“EMAL”) at the 12^th International Foundry Trade Fair and WFO Technical Forum (“GIFA 2011”), which took place in Dusseldorf, Germany from 28 June to 2 July this year.

Aiming primarily to grow sales volumes in Europe, the combined DUBAL-EMAL exhibition stand at GIFA 2011 highlighted the world-class primary aluminium produced in the UAE and shipped across the globe. Particular focus was also placed on DUBAL’s proprietary, sector-leading DX Reduction Technology that has been implemented on industrial scale at both DUBAL (in a dedicated 40-cell potline) and EMAL Phase I (756 cells in two potlines).

An entirely state-owned enterprise, DUBAL operates a one million metric tonne per annum primary aluminium smelter at Jebel Ali, Dubai — one of the largest single-site operations of its kind in the world — and in 2010 produced 1,002,414 metric tonnes of hot metal. The company is renowned internationally for its premium purity, high quality products and services; as well as its commitment to sustainable development through conscious efforts to maximise the health and safety of people, reduce the impact of its operations on the environment, and invest in the social and economic development of the community. Dedicated programmes support the Emiratization goals of the UAE, including targeted recruitment, skills development, management training and strategic career planning. Approximately 92 per cent of DUBAL’s annual production is exported globally, the company’s key markets being Asia, Europe, the Middle East North Africa (“MENA”) region and North America.

A green-field development, EMAL is being built in two phases at Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, and is owned jointly by DUBAL and Mubadala Development Company (in equal shareholding). Energizing of EMAL Phase I, which has a total capacity of 750,000 metric tonnes per annum, took place between 1 December 2009 and 31 December 2010 — with full production being reached four months ahead of schedule, yet within budget. The company already enjoys a strong reputation for sound safety management, wellbeing programmes for its employees and adopting global best practices to minimize its environmental footprint — the latter entrenched through the implementation of DX Reduction Technology, which offers enhanced energy efficiency and productivity levels yet lower environmental emissions than comparative technologies. These attributes are complemented by initiatives to harness Emirati talent through job-creation, engaging the community in corporate activities and celebrating the national and cultural heritage of the UAE.

Given the specialized focus of GIFA 2011 as a foundry exhibition, the event featured diverse new automotive applications, particularly in terms of aluminium usage and the associated increase in the volume of aluminium used in vehicle manufacture. For DUBAL, being one of the world’s largest and leading suppliers of foundry alloys to automotive parts manufacturers (for use in wheel rims, sub-frames, and suspension parts, cross members, bright trims, engine cradles and other applications), GIFA 2011 thus provided an excellent opportunity to meet customers and elevate the joint strength of DUBAL and EMAL as suppliers of re-melt foundry products to key markets across the globe.

Having first sold metal into Europe in 1996, DUBAL has already established a good share of the aluminium market in the region over the past 15 years. In 2011, the DUBAL-EMAL Marketing and Sales team anticipates selling about 445,000 metric tonnes of primary aluminium into Europe — approximately 40 per cent more than the total 252,000 metric tonnes sold in 2010. “This growth trend reflects both the opportunity inherent in the European Union’s need to import approximately 60 per cent of its primary aluminium requirements; and a growing appreciation of the stringent operating standards to which the UAE smelters adhere,” says Abdulla Kalban (President & CEO: DUBAL and Vice Chairman: EMAL). “Many downstream industries are placing greater emphasis on sustainability within their supply chain, a move that is making primary aluminium produced by companies such as DUBAL and EMAL inherently more attractive.”