Alcan to partner in 7bn dollars Saudi complex

摘要

Alcan has agreed to build a 7-billion dollars aluminium complex in Saudi Arabia with Saudi mining company Ma'aden. Pending a final agreement, Alcan will take a 49-percent stake in the complex, which will consist of a bauxite mine, alumina refinery, aluminium smelter and power plant. State-run Ma'aden will hold the remaining 51 percent. The complex will include a 720,000 tpy smelter, 1.6-million tpy alumina refinery and an oil-fired power plant delivering 1,400 MW to the project. Bauxite reserves are said to be 90 million tonnes, enough to support 30 years of mining, according to the companies. The Az Zabirah project, located at Ras Az Zawr on the central east coast of Saudi Arabia, is expected to pour first metal in 2011 and begin production of alumina a year later, Alcan said in a statement.