Oman rolling mill targets downstream aluminium projects

07 March 2012

Oman Aluminium Rolling Company aims to start up Sohar rolling mill in August 2013

Oman Aluminium Rolling Company (OARC) is looking to develop downstream aluminium operations in Oman after the start up of its rolling mill in Sohar.

The Muscat-based company expects its $388m rolling mill to come on stream in August 2013 with a capacity of 160,000 tonnes a year (t/y).

Speaking at MEED’s Aluminium 2012 conference in Dubai on 7 March, Buddy Stemple, the company’s chief executive said it is “looking at downstream opportunities” including specialised slitting operations, a coil paint line, specialised coil coating applications and various support industries.

OARC awarded Italy’s Fata EPC the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the rolling mill and employed Bahrain-based aluminium group Garmco to initially export all products.

After start-up material from the rolling mill will be exported for use in aluminium food containers, foil stock reroll, automotive heat exchangers and air conditioners.

OARC is aiming to use 80,000 t/y – or half of the mill’s capacity – for downstream products in Oman within five years.

OARC is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Takamul Investment Company Oman, a company formed in 2006 to promote and invest in metals, petrochemicals and minerals projects in the Sultanate.

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