Jun 1 2007
SNC-Lavalin is pleased to announce that it has been awarded, in joint venture with its Australian partner WorleyParsons, a major engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) services contract by Emirates Aluminium (Emal). SNC-Lavalin's share in the joint venture will be 67%, and its revenues from the contract will be approximately $US200 million. Emal is a joint venture company established by Dubai Aluminium Company (DUBAL) and the Mubadala Development Company, the investment vehicle of the Government of Abu Dhabi. The project will be carried out in two phases. The estimated total capital cost of this first phase is about US$5 billion.
The contract is to provide EPCM services to design and build a new aluminum smelter at Emal's Taweelah site in Abu Dhabi. Once completed, the smelter will be the largest single-site aluminum smelter in the world, with an initial capacity estimated at 700,000 tonnes for Phase I, and rising to an estimated total capacity of 1.4 million tonnes per year once Phase II is completed. Phase I also includes the provision of a 2,000 MW power plant.
"This is a very important project for our operations in the Gulf, as the aluminum market in the region is expanding rapidly," said Riadh Ben Aïssa, Executive-Vice President, SNC-Lavalin. "We are also pleased to be involved in this major investment project with Emal, and look forward to building on our long term relationship"
Commenting on the contract awards Mr Abdullah Kalban, Vice-Chairman of Emal, said: "If this smelter is to be a showcase for the technological advancement of the Emirates, it is only fitting that we align ourselves with partners who share our vision. Both SNC-Lavalin and WorleyParsons have demonstrated a thorough understanding of the importance of this project, its fast track nature and the adherence to quality and excellence at every stage."
Work is underway and front-end engineering and design studies are scheduled for completion in 2007. Phase I is expected to be operational in 2010.