Phase 1 of the project, focusing on the upstream works, calls for the development of a bauxite mine to supply a 1.4 million-tonne-a-year (t/y) alumina refinery, with a captive power plant, a port, a township and related facilities. Under the proposed schedule, financial close on the $1,100 million phase is due by the end of 2006, with construction starting in 2007 and project completion in the second half of 2009.

About 1 million t/y of the produced alumina will be used by Dubal as feedstock for its Jebel Ali smelter. Phase 2 will add a further 1.5 million t/y of alumina capacity. It will also include the construction of an aluminium smelter, using Dubal's in-house smelting technology. The phase's costs are put at about $2,500 million.

The project is the largest foreign direct investment in India by a UAE company.