Sohar Aluminum expansion decision expected by end of year

The Omani cabinet is expected to announce its decision before the end of the year on doubling the capacity of Sohar Aluminum's smelter to a world scale 720,000 tonnes per annum.

Mr Henk Pauw CEO of Sohar Aluminum said that the total cost of expanding the smelter, as well as the captive power plant that serves the facility is estimated at USD 3 billion. The company is a joint venture of Oman Oil Company, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company and Rio Tinto Alcan.