Oman’s Takamul Investment Company plans to expand its portfolio of downstream aluminium investments in Oman and is considering projects in aluminium packaging and aluminium construction materials, the MEED Middle East Aluminium 2012 Conference was told on 6 March.

Takamul has invested in Oman Aluminium Processing Industries, which makes aluminium conductors, and is developing the 140,000 tonne-a-year Oman Aluminium Rolling Company. Both are located in the Sohar industrial estate adjacent to the 380,000 tonne-a-year Sohar Aluminium smelter

“The aluminium conductor plant was built to serve the electricity market,” said Takamul senior business development adviser PR Ramakrishnan. “We continue to see a large opportunity here and for expansion.We believe packaging and construction will form an important part of the future and aluminium products used in transport projects.”

He added that feasibility studies are under way looking into the possibility of building aluminium extrusion and die-casting manufacturing units. Initial consideration has begun of factories that might produce aluminium cable, foil and coated sheets.

Ramakrishnan said a steel wire manufacturing plant is under construction in the Sohar industrial estate and that its output could be used as reinforcement in electrical cables.

Oman could play a significant role in the global automotive component industry. “We see Duqm and Salalah as potentially part of the automobile supply chain,” said Ramakrishnan. “We have seen interest among car manufacturers in using Oman as a hub.”