RIYADH: The joint venture smelter project in Ras Al-Khair will help establish the Kingdom as the regional leader in the global aluminum industry, says Alcoa Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld.
His remarks came as the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) and Alcoa celebrated the achievement of the First Hot Metal milestone at the project.
This milestone marks the successful commissioning of the first of 720 smelting furnaces or “pots,” and is a key step toward the commercial production at the smelter.
At the ceremony marking the event in Ras Al-Khair, Maaden President and CEO Khalid Al-Mudaifer said the achievement of First Hot Metal in only 25 months from the pouring of first concrete is testimony to the vision of the Saudi government and the dedication of Maaden, Alcoa and their respective contractor teams.
“Today we see the first aluminum produced in Saudi Arabia, and the launch of a new industry — one based on the natural resources and human talent of the Kingdom, the vision of the government, and the close friendship and collaboration of Maaden and our joint venture partner, Alcoa,” Mudaifer said.
“The regional strength and expertise of Maaden and the technological leadership and global market reach of Alcoa is a winning combination,” he said.
The Alcoa chairman also said the ceremony in Saudi Arabia represented a momentous event for Alcoa and clear demonstration of the company’s focus on disciplined execution.
The Maaden-Alcoa joint venture will be the lowest-cost producer within our global smelting system, Kleinfeld said.
Abdullah Busfar, chairman of the Maaden Aluminium joint venture, said: “We want to congratulate Bechtel and its team of 46 different sub-contracting companies that employed the labor and expertise of about 14,000 people from 25 different nationalities to reach this milestone.”
Kingdom a step closer to regional aluminum hub status
Kingdom a step closer to regional aluminum hub status
National wildlife center launches training program for rangers
RIYADH: The National Center for Wildlife has launched a new training program to improve rangers’ skills in capturing, transporting and monitoring animals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The program starts with “proper wildlife handling during transport, progressing through capture methods and post-release monitoring, and concluding with the evaluation of designated release sites,” the center said.
Its goal is to unify procedures for wildlife translocation and release, strengthen ranger readiness, ensure the environmental and administrative suitability of release sites, and enhance the overall efficiency of field implementation, the report said.
The training included visits to the King Khalid Wildlife Research Center, which is equipped with a veterinary clinic and laboratories, as well as a number of hands-on exercises.
The NCW said the program was part of its ongoing efforts to build specialized national competencies in wildlife management, reinforce reintroduction programs, safeguard biodiversity and contribute to more effective reserve management and the achievement of the Kingdom’s environmental sustainability goals.
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