The Inaugural Event of the Sohar Aluminium Project 2009

Sohar, 29th April 2009 – The Sohar Aluminium Project celebrated today its inaugural event. The smelter, one of the biggest industrial developments ever established in the Sultanate of Oman with a total project cost of R.O. 925 million equivalent to US$ 2.4 billion was inaugurated under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Sayyid Shihab Bin Tariq Bin Taimoor Al Said along with other ministers, under-secretaries and higher delegates of local and international importance, in addition to international figures in the Aluminium Industry
 
On this occasion His Excellency Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of Oman Oil Company stated that “The Sohar Aluminium project is one of the largest economic investments ever made by the government of Oman through the Oman Oil Company. The Oman Oil Company today has interests in several projects both within the Sultanate of Oman and internationally.” His Excellency also added that the Sohar Aluminium project would help create greater employment opportunities in the Sultanate, particularly in the Sohar Industrial estate and in the primary aluminium processing industries as well further indirect job creation in the local market to support these new companies.
 
His Highness Sheikh Dhiab bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Chairman of ADWEA declared that   “The contribution of the UAE in this vital project comes from the deep belief in the importance of the economic partnership in strengthening the brotherly bonds between both countries.”
 
Ms Jacynthe Côté, CEO Rio Tinto Alcan explained how the technology at the heart of Sohar Aluminium’s operations was key to its competitive advantage “Rio Tinto Alcan’s benchmark AP 36 technology is the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly smelter technology commercially available,” “with AP technology in place, Sohar Aluminium will stand among the most cost-effective and innovative facilities in the world.”
 
On another note, The Chairman of Sohar Aluminium, Ahmed bin Salim Al Wahaibi stated that “the project has been set up to produce 360,000 tonnes of primary aluminium using the most efficient technology in the industry. Part of the product will be used locally and developed by further downstream industry and the rest will be exported through Sohar Industrial Port” The chairman also reaffirmed that the project, a joint venture between Oman Oil Company, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company and Rio Tinto Alcan started construction at the end of 2005, produced its first hot metal in June 2008 and reached full capacity on the 19th of February this year.
 
The Chairman also added that Sohar Aluminium has undertaken the training and development of Omani nationals both within and outside the Sultanate to work for this important company. This has helped to recruit 679 Omani youths to work for the company across all departments from administration to technical fields. Today our Omanisation level is up to 68% - we also believe that there will be indirect job opportunities created from this project. Estimates project the numbers of indirect jobs created will be in the region of four times the number of people Sohar Aluminium directly employs which is in line with both the Sultanate and the projects objectives.
 
Al Wahaibi added that the company has implemented world class standards in Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) through the use of benchmark technology and procedures which reduce emissions and preserve the surrounding environment. In addition, Sohar Aluminium has also committed to a program of landscaping on and around the smelter site.
 
The Chairman reiterated that the Sohar Aluminium project will support the local community, particularly in the Al Batinah region where a percentage of annual profit will be allocated to help grow industry and assist the local community – both of which will add value to the region. The Chairman added that Sohar Aluminium has also assisted the development of the downstream industries through Takamul, a joint venture between Oman Oil Company and the UAE. Al Wahaibi believes that the Sohar Aluminium project will generate growth in the region as a result of its current production and anticipated future production.
 
Mr Bruce Hall, CEO Sohar Aluminium quantified the human contribution to the project in his speech by saying “36 million man-hours have been expended during the life of the project, by more than 10,000 people who have passed through the site, from 24 separate countries.” Of the capital invested Mr Hall explained that “$513 million was spent in Oman and $400 million of that has been spent in the Al Batinah region”. He has added that the proof of what this project can achieve is the local development of “no fewer than 5 downstream industries”
 
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