In the first phase of the investment, a CR mill with an annual production capacity of 250,000 mt is being built, with production due to commence in January 2008.
In addition, also as part of the first phase, production is expected to start in December 2007 on a pickling and oiling line with an annual production capacity of 350,000 mt, while production on a 200,000 mt-galvanizing line is expected to start in February 2008. The first-phase CR mill and galvanizing line will be the first CR and galvanizing facilities to operate in the UAE.
In scope of the second phase, the company plans to increase the capacity of its CR mill to 420,000 mt per annum by means of adding an extra stand, while the pickling line capacity will increase to 500,000 mt per annum. The additional CR output will be used to feed a new aluminum-zinc coating line with an annual production capacity of 200,000 mt.
Commenting on the investment, Al Ghurair's chief operating officer Abu Bucker Husain said that the second phase will start a year after the completion of the first phase. The financial details of the second phase of the investment have not yet been disclosed.