Ma′aden Alcoa Joint Venture Achieves Significant Safety Milestone
Construction workforce surpasses 25 million safe work hours at Ras Al
Khair smelter site in Saudi Arabia
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) and the Saudi Arabian Mining Company, Ma′aden have
recorded a major safety milestone during construction of their aluminum
smelter at Ras Al Khair, in Saudi Arabia: 25 million hours worked
without a lost work day injury.
Part of the fully integrated aluminum complex being developed jointly by
Ma′aden and Alcoa, the 740,000-metric-ton-per-year smelter is scheduled
for completion in 2013.
The lost work day accomplishment was achieved by 39 construction
companies employing a diverse multinational workforce that speaks more
than 15 languages and represents upwards of 25 countries and cultures.
The number of workers including contractors grew from less than 200 to
approximately 12,400 during this period.
'Achieving this remarkable safety performance on such a large and
complex project requires team work, training and focus,? said Ken
Wisnoski, Vice President, Alcoa and President Global Primary Products
Growth. 'While we are proud of this achievement, we know we cannot
relax. Safety requires constant vigilance.?
Engineer Abdullah Busfar, Chairman of Ma′aden Aluminium Company, said,
'This is safety performance in keeping with the world-class facility we
are building at Ras Al Khair. There are many challenges to overcome to
achieve an injury-free workplace in a project of this size, but we have
the right people, focused on doing the right things, and the teams
constructing the smelter are to be commended for achieving this
milestone?
About the Ma′aden Alcoa joint venture
In its initial phases,
the joint venture will develop a fully integrated industrial complex
which will become the world's preeminent and lowest-cost supplier of
primary aluminum, alumina and aluminum products, with access to the
growing markets of the Middle East and beyond. The complex comprises:
A bauxite mine with an initial capacity of 4,000,000 metric tons per
year
An alumina refinery with an initial capacity of 1,800,000 metric tons
per year
An aluminum smelter with an initial capacity of 740,000 metric tons
per year
A rolling mill, with initial capacity of 380,000 metric tons per year.
The mill will be the first in the Middle East capable of producing
food grade can sheet, and will be one of the most technically advanced
mills in the world.
First commercial production from smelter and mill is scheduled for 2013,
followed by first commercial production of alumina from the mine and
refinery complex, scheduled for 2014. Alcoa will supply alumina to the
smelter in the interim period.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world′s leading producer of primary
aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina. In addition to inventing the
modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major
milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and
construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and
industrial markets over the past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa
markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings,
as well as Alcoa ? wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment
castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other
light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys.
Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa′s operating practices and
the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has
been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for ten consecutive
years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced
since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately
61,000 people in 31 countries across the world. More information can be
found at www.alcoa.com.
About Ma′aden
Ma′aden was established as a Saudi Arabian
joint stock company in March 1997 to facilitate the development of Saudi
Arabia′s non-petroleum mineral resources and to diversify the Kingdom′s
economy away from the petroleum and petrochemical sectors. Ma′aden is
engaged in the development, advancement and improvement of all aspects
of the mineral industry, mineral products and by-products and related
industries in Saudi Arabia. In July 2008 Ma′aden offered 50% of the
company′s shares for subscription in a successful SR 9.25 billion IPO.
Ma′aden has progressed towards realizing its vision of building a world
class mineral enterprise and its mission of being a profitable, publicly
owned, international mining company, while maintaining the utmost
concern for human resources, health and safety, environmental and social
issues.
The company is committed to the best international and local
environmental standards and values its role as a good corporate citizen.
Alcoa
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Kelly Pasterick, 212-836-2674
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