The Qatalum aluminium plant, once a dream in the desert of Qatar, is about to become a reality with a royal inaugural endorsement.
For more than five years, the Qatalum Project team have worked tirelessly to make the new primary aluminium plant in Qatar a reality.
On Monday, April 12, the Qatari Emir, HH Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani will inaugurate the pioneering accomplishment accompanied by Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon.
The inauguration takes place in a ceremony hall in Mesaieed Industrial City and will include entertainment and films with messages representing Qatalum as a competitive smelter of global standing to many key stakeholders in the audience.
Altogether
Political delegations
The Amir and the Crown Prince will be accompanied by no less than three ministers: Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, deputy prime minister and minister for oil and industry from Qatar, Trond Giske, Norway’s Minister for Industry and Trade, and Terje Riis Johannesen, Norway’s Minister for Oil and Energy.
The board of Qatalum led by Mr Abdulla Al Salatt and the board of directors of Hydro, with chairperson Terje Varberg, and the corporate management board of Hydro, led by President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg, are heading the Hydro delegation to the opening of Hydro Aluminium’s largest single project ever.
Norway's largest project abroad
The Qatalum development is the largest Norwegian industrial project abroad. Hydro’s project organization has managed the project, with a total investment of $5.7 billion. First metal was produced – on schedule – in December 2009 and the plant will reach full capacity in the fourth quarter of 2010 – again according to plan.
Qatalum is the result of more than 90 million working hours. More than 56,000 workers from more than 200 companies have been directly involved in the construction in Qatar. In addition to work by subcontractors that have shipped prefabricated components to the Gulf state.
Altogether, approximately 650 guests will take part in the opening events. Of these, the majority have been invited by Qatalum directly or by Qatar Petroleum and some 200 are Hydro’s guests.
Showcase for Qatar and Norway
Qatar sees Qatalum as a shining star in its energy diversification initiative; bringing cutting-edge technology especially with a view to the environment and by also introducing a high standard of labour accommodation in the Qatalum construction Village. Norway in turn believes Qatalum to be an excellent example of its technological and project management prowess.
The opening ceremony is also attracting widespread media interest. The Norwegian media will also cover the events, and more than 50 news organizations and publications are accredited.