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GE Energy Announces $200 Million Service Contract with Emirates Aluminium for World’s Largest Single-Site Aluminum Smelter


WEBWIRE

Agreement with EMAL Supports Goal to Ensure Reliable Power Supply for the Plant

ABU DHABI, UAE - GE Energy today announced a multi-year contractual service agreement (CSA) with Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) as it nears completion of what will become the world’s largest single-site aluminum smelter complex. The CSA will support EMAL’s recent investment in GE gas turbines and the long-term productivity and efficiency of the turbines.

Under the CSA, GE Energy will supply a wide range of services for the gas turbines, which are equipped with advanced emission control technologies to help EMAL reduce its carbon footprint and meet the regulatory requirements set by the Abu Dhabi Environmental Agency.

Duncan Hedditch, the CEO of Emirates Aluminium, said, “Our partnership with GE underscores how two global players can work in partnership to help create a world-class smelter. This service agreement underscores our commitment to sustainability and the seamless production of reliable, high-quality aluminum using the best available, environmentally-sound technology.”

Valued at more than $200 million, the CSA is designed to support the power requirements of this project, located close to the Arabian Gulf near Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi and considered to be the UAE’s largest industrial project outside of the oil and gas sector. Phase one of the project will have an installed capacity of more than 2,000 megawatts of electricity to be used in the production of 700,000 tons of aluminum per year, while phase two will increase capacity to 1.4 million tons of aluminum per year.

GE Energy announced last July that it is supplying Frame 9FA gas turbines, C7 steam turbines, heat recovery steam generators and condensers for the project. Equipment shipping began at the end of 2008 in keeping with the project timeline of starting operations in April 2010.

The project will mark one of the first installations of GE’s Frame 9FA technology for an aluminum project. The units will be equipped with GE’s advanced Dry Low NOx (DLN) emissions technology, which will help meet EMAL’s goal of reduced environmental impact from the smelter complex.

“The CSA will provide GE technical experience and support for the EMAL power plant, allowing the customer to focus on its core objective of producing aluminum,” said John Krenicki, GE vice chairman, president and CEO of GE Energy Infrastructure. “The reliable supply of power is key to the overall success of this milestone project, which will set new technology standards for the aluminum industry in the Middle East and help position the UAE as a leading player in this competitive global industry.”

The EMAL project has helped to create new jobs and brings significant economic benefits to the region, while paving the way for expansion and diversification of the UAE’s industrial sector.

“The Middle East is one of the most important growth areas for GE Energy in the world today,” Krenicki said. “Since the end of 2006, we have announced more than $8 billion in equipment and service agreements across the Middle East with over 1,000 gas turbines installed. We continue to build on our capabilities and fulfillment to support the growth of the region.”

The CSA for the power plant at the EMAL smelter covers the supply of parts, repairs and field services for planned and unplanned outages for the gas turbine-generators and accessory equipment, along with performance guarantees. GE’s long-term service agreements are structured to provide customers with predictable maintenance costs, while ensuring a steady revenue flow from power plant operations. To date, GE has long-term service agreements including CSAs in place at more than 600 sites worldwide.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2008 revenue of US$29.3 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

About GE

GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.

About EMAL

EMAL is a joint venture (JV) between Dubai Aluminium Company Limited (DUBAL) and Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) and was established in February 2007 to construct what will become the world’s largest single site aluminum smelter complex. The project will be built in two phases and utilise Emirati-developed technology. At the end of phase one in 2010, EMAL will produce 700,000 tons of aluminum per annum and 1.4 million tons annually at the end of phase two. The aluminum complex, a 6sq km site in the Khalifa Port Industrial Zone in Taweelah, half way between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will produce primary aluminum with a product mix of sow, standard ingot, tee ingot, extrusion billet and sheet ingot.

Being the largest industrial project in the UAE outside the oil and gas industry, the project will encourage economic diversification, creating downstream opportunities. This development will benefit the UAE economy, employing more than 14,000 local and international contractors/staff during construction and 2,000 people direct employment during operations.

EMAL adheres to strict environmental standards set by the Abu Dhabi Environmental Agency, with state-of the-art emission control equipment including sulphur-dioxide scrubbers, the latest potroom gas treatment technology, the best-available gas turbine systems, and cooling towers to eliminate thermal stress on local marine life.



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