Bechtel’s global reach, expertise on large projects, and leadership in the aluminum industry all are on display in the Sultanate of Oman, where the company is building a major new smelter for Sohar Aluminium.
The $1.4 billion project will be one of only two greenfield aluminum smelter projects started since 2000 (the other one is the new Fjarðaál smelter that Bechtel built in remote eastern Iceland). The Sohar project will feature the world’s largest, most technologically advanced potline. With 360 pots (the next largest plant has 336), it will be able to produce up to 386,000 tons (350,000 tonnes) of aluminum annually.
In addition to the enormous potline, the project includes construction of a carbon plant, a metal casting facility, and port facilities for storage and shipping.
Oman is located at the northeastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. The smelter site sits just inland from the Gulf of Oman, halfway between Muscat and neighboring Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Bechtel is providing engineering, procurement, and construction management services for the project. The company also is providing construction services, building more than 50 percent of the total project scope on a direct-hire basis.
Unlike other countries in the region, Oman is not a major oil producer. To boost its economy, the country’s government is encouraging foreign investment in a variety of light and heavy industries such as aluminum. Bechtel is training nearly 750 Omanis to work on the project as electricians, carpenters, and other skilled laborers. In addition, they’ll learn computer skills, which also will help them prepare for careers after the project is completed.
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