Dec 27 2007
On 4 October 2007, Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (“DUBAL”) signed its first Technology Licence Agreement relating to the use of the company’s in-house developed, proprietary DX reduction cell technology. The agreement was signed with Emirates Aluminium, a MUBADALA-DUBAL Joint Venture, for the Taweelah Aluminium Smelter located in Abu Dhabi.
The construction of this smelter, which will have an initial annual production capacity of 700,000 metric tonnes of molten aluminium per year by 2010, is the most important green-field project in the Middle East as it will be the largest aluminium smelter built in a single construction phase, once phase two is completed and which will have a total production capacity of 1.4 million metric tonnes.
Through this agreement, DUBAL will provide a license to use its state-of-the-art technology, complemented by comprehensive engineering and operation documentation; full engineering services for commissioning, start-up and operations; extensive training and skills development; plus access to ongoing technical support from DUBAL.
The product of ongoing investments in the research and development of high amperage reduction cells for green-field smelters, DUBAL’s DX technology operates at 340 kA – an amperage that places it amongst the most productive technologies presently available on the market – with potential for improvement. The new, advanced technology made its début in 2006 and has since been tested extensively within DUBAL’s 890,000 metric tonne per annum smelter at Jebel Ali.
The UAE-patented technology exemplifies DUBAL’s pioneering contribution to technological advancement in the region.
“We are very excited by this first Technology Licence Agreement,” says Abdulla Kalban, CEO: DUBAL. “Not only does it represent a major milestone in DUBAL’s history, but it will also allow EMAL to access the wealth of human intellect and industry experience within our company.”