Saudi Arabia begins aluminium production at Maaden

　　Saudi Arabia began aluminium production at its first smelter built through JV between the Saudi Arabian Mining Company and US giant Alcoa.

　　Mr Khalid al Mudaifer president & CEO of Maaden said that "Today we see the first aluminium produced in Saudi Arabia and the launch of a new industry.

　　The Maaden Aluminium JV is 74.9% owned by the Saudi group with the rest held by Alcoa. The smelter is part of JV agreed in 2009 to construct a giant industrial complex costing USD 10.8 billion.

　　In addition to the smelter which will have an initial annual capacity of 740,000 tonnes the complex includes a bauxite mine with an initial capacity of four million metric tonnes per year and an alumina refinery with an annual initial capacity of 1.8 million tonnes.

　　The complex also comprises a rolling mill with a capacity of 380,000 metric tonnes annually. The smelter was built by Bechtel in 29 months.