Dubai Investments may opt to issue a sukuk, or Islamic bonds, to finance the expansion of the second production line at its Emirates Float Glass Factory in Abu Dhabi. The second phase of the facility, to be the largest in the UAE upon completion, will add another 600 tons a day of capacity, bringing the total to 1,200 tons per day.

• Companhia de Alumina do Para’s board of directors has decided to postpone the construction of a new alumina refinery in Barcarena, Brazil. The main reasons for the postponement are the uncertainty related to short- and medium-term aluminum supply/demand balance and the development in the world economy. Companhia de Alumina do Para is owned by Hydro (81 %) and Dubal (19 %).

• Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc. announced that it will be investing some $100 million to expand its operations at Linden, Guyana, creating more than 500 jobs in the process while moving closer to resolving dust pollution issues from its operation. They’re looking to introduce a third kiln and to produce two new products, proppants and mullites.

• With an increase in world demand for aluminum at an average of 6 percent annually, the demand from the Gulf Cooperation Council is expected to grow and will drive the Gulf producers to expand their production capacity even further. The world demand for aluminum is estimated to reach over 70 million tons by the year 2020 from 40 million tons a year currently; almost 80 percent of the aluminum produced in the Gulf is exported to different parts of the world.

Author

P. Carlo Ratto

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