Saudi Alcoa grants aluminium plant deals

Swiss-based ABB, U.S.-based Fluor Corp. and WorleyParsons have won the first contracts for a planned $10.8 billion aluminium joint venture between Alcoa and Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Maaden) The contracts awarded are linked to the construction of the integrated aluminium complex at Ras Azzour. WorleyParsons and Fluor will supervise engineering and procurements of the complex's alumina refinery to be completed by December 2014. ABB has been given 18 months to deliver electric power to the aluminium smelter and Fluor was given a contract to oversee and complete the construction of the plant's rolling mill by December 2014. Fluor Arabia Ltd, the Saudi affiliate of Fluor Corp. also won a contract for management of services at the complex and engineering works and supervision of infrastructure at the site, Maaden said. Maaden's dea l with Alcoa provides for a 1.8 million tonne per year refinery, a 740,000-tonne-per-year smelter, a bauxite mine with an annual capacity of 4 million tonnes and a rolling mill with a capacity of up to 460,000 tonnes. The smelter and mill were initially slated to start production in 2013, while the refinery and mine would come online in 2014.(the end)Air Max