The Maaden Alcoa AA -0.19% aluminum JV announced that it has poured the first concrete in the construction of the region's first alumina refinery at the fully integrated aluminum complex at Ras Al Khair. Once complete, the refinery will initially produce 1.8 million tonnes of smelter grade alumina per year. In another first within the Kingdom, the refinery will utilize a technologically advanced, engineered natural system to treat, recycle and conserve significant volumes of water.

Mr Abdullah Busfar chairman of the board of directors of Maaden Aluminum Company said that the refinery was highly symbolic of the Kingdom's emerging strength as a competitor in the regional and global aluminum industry. We have everything we need to develop a fully integrated aluminum industry within Saudi Arabia.

Mr Busfar said that "In Ma'aden itself we have the experience and local knowledge required to develop the bauxite reserves and the other natural resources needed for feed stocks. We have the support and leadership of the Government. And we have a partnership with Alcoa that is accelerating the development of the skills and technology required to build out this complex and the downstream opportunities it will create."

Mr Ken Wisnoski VP of Alcoa and president of Alcoa's Primary Products Growth group said that the JV's commitment to world class design and low operating costs was apparent throughout the complex. The refinery, as with the smelter and the rolling mill, will be based on best in-class technologies and operating practices.

He said that conserving resources is crucial to maintenance of low operating costs and, as with the other facilities within this complex this refinery has numerous advantages designed to reduce its demand on energy and other natural resources, such as water. We're pouring concrete today as the foundation for a long term, highly competitive, low cost and sustainable operation.

Mr Khalid Al Mudaifer president & CEO of Maaden said that the project team for their ingenuity in applying measures to protect the environment. He also highlighted the project's role in creating new careers for Saudi nationals and developing a local supplier program to benefit communities near the future operations.