Emirates Aluminium (Emal) is evaluating bids for the project to boost the capacity of its captive power plant at its Emal complex in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad).

Emal initially received bids in February, but asked bidders to resubmit fresh prices due to bids being too high voer budget. After receiving fresh prices, Emal is currently evaluating the proposals. The expansion will increase the capacity of the captive power plant by about 235MW.

It is believed that fewer than five bids were submitted for the expansion.

South Korea’s Samsung C&T recently completed work on the $625m second phase expansion of the captive power plant at the Emal complex. The expansion of the power plant has increased the capacity of the plant from 2,000MW to 3,100MW. Samsung C&T was the EPC contractor for the second phase expansion, and the US’ GE provided turbines for the project.

The second phase expansion of the Emal smelter will boost its output by 550,000 tonne a year (t/y) to 1.3 million t/y by mid-2014.

In November the US’ GE Power & Water was awarded a long-term agreement to provide services on turbines that power the aluminium smelter complex in Taweelah, Abu Dhabi.

The contractual services agreement (CSA) will extend its current services for three of the GE-supplied 9FA turbines and add the maintenance and support of two 9FA standby units. The CSA will cover requirements of spare parts, repairs and field services.