WAM Abu Dhabi, 15th April 2012 (WAM): Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) marked a major milestone in the construction of its US$4.6 billion Phase II smelter expansion on Sunday: the pouring of the first potroom concrete of what will be the world's longest potline when complete. The pouring was conducted by EMAL and its contractors - AF Carillion, and SNC Lavalin II in the presence of EMAL senior executives, including EMAL President and CEO, Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei.

Phase II will add 444 reduction cells using the cutting-edge DX+ reduction cell technology. Phase II implementation will boost production to approximately 1.3 million metric tonnes by 2014 and will establish EMAL as one of the largest single-site smelters in the world.

EMAL's VP Projects, Yousuf Bastaki, said: "This important milestone has been completed on-schedule and on-budget, and demonstrates the hard work and strong capabilities of EMAL and its partners in executing a major expansion with all its attendant challenges." WAM/TF