Under the deal, the largest of its kind in the global aluminium industry, Alstom will supply the technology used to reduce fluoride and sulphur dioxide emissions from the plant.

When completed, the production facility will span an area of 6 square kilometres at the Khalifa Port Industrial Zone in Taweelah. With an output of 1.4 million tonnes a year (t/y), it will be one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world. Construction of the first stage of the project, with a capacity of 700,000 t/y, is due to be completed in 2010.

Emal is a joint venture of Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) and Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Development Company (MEED 7:3:08).