Saudi Arabia began aluminium production at its first smelter built through JV between the Saudi Arabian Mining Company and US giant Alcoa.
Mr Khalid al Mudaifer president & CEO of Maaden said that "Today we see the first aluminium produced in Saudi Arabia and the launch of a new industry.
The Maaden Aluminium JV is 74.9% owned by the Saudi group with the rest held by Alcoa. The smelter is part of JV agreed in 2009 to construct a giant industrial complex costing USD 10.8 billion.
In addition to the smelter which will have an initial annual capacity of 740,000 tonnes the complex includes a bauxite mine with an initial capacity of four million metric tonnes per year and an alumina refinery with an annual initial capacity of 1.8 million tonnes.
The complex also comprises a rolling mill with a capacity of 380,000 metric tonnes annually. The smelter was built by Bechtel in 29 months.