Outotec and Hatch, an unincorporated Joint Venture, have been awarded a contract by the Ma’aden and Alcoa JV to provide an integrated digestion and evaporation facility to what will reportedly be the lowest cost aluminium complex in the world – the Ma’aden project in Ras Az Zawr, Saudi Arabia. The Outotec-Hatch overall contract value is approximately EUR50 million, with roughly equal share of the work between the two. The delivery of the facility includes a technology license, detailed engineering, procurement support and construction support services. Outotec and Hatch have jointly developed and own the tube digestion and integrated evaporation technologies to be installed at this alumina refinery. It will have an initial annual capacity of 1.8 Mt alumina, with first production expected in 2014.The Ma’aden aluminium project comprises a fully integrated greenfield complex with bauxite mine, alumina refinery, aluminium smelter and can sheet rolling mill. It will contribute to the development of a world-class aluminium industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is designed with the potential for future expansion.
The Al Baítha site consists of a bauxite mine and ore handling facilities and is located near Quiba in northeast Saudi Arabia.The mine plan has been prepared based upon current estimated capacities of the refinery and smelter reviewed in completed technical studies and envisages production at an annual mining rate of 4 Mt/y of bauxite for a period in excess of 30 years.
The Ras Az Zawr site comprises a plot of land 90 km north of Jubail on the coast of the Arabian gulf. A segment of the site is proposed to be used for the construction of the alumina refinery, aluminium smelter, rolling mill and related infrastructure for the Aluminium Complex. Bauxite ore transported by rail to Ras Az Zawr will be refined to produce alumina, which will in turn be processed in the smelter on site to produce 740,000 t/y of aluminium.
The rolling mill with initial hot-mill capacity of between 250,000 and 460,000 t/y will focus initially on the production of sheet, end and tab stock for the manufacture of cans and other products.
Aluminium operations at Ras Az Zawr will rely on certain infrastructure with a key item being a power, steam and water facility. In October 2009 Ma’aden signed an agreement with the Saline Water Conversion Co (SWCC) and Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to develop a joint power and desalination plant which will generate 2,400 MW of electricity and 1.025 million m3/d of water. Of that, the aluminium complex will use 1,350 MW of electricity and 25,000 m3/d of water. The rest of the water will be pumped to the cities of Riyadh, Hafr Al-Batin and Nuayriyah. SEC’s share will be 1,050 MW of electricity, some of which will power downstream industries at the Mineral Industry Complex at Ras Az Zawr.
“We are delighted that Ma’aden Aluminium Project chose the unique Outotec-Hatch alumina digestion and evaporation technology for this facility which will be one of the most technologically advanced aluminium complex in the world and utilise low-cost and clean power generation. As our core business is the development of sustainable solutions for our planet, we are very proud to be involved in this project”, says Outotec CEO Pertti Korhonen.