Using natural gas as its primary fuel, the power plant will feature GE Energy’s Frame 9FA gas turbines, C7 steam turbines, heat recovery steam generators and condensers.

When the first phase of the project is complete, the site will have an installed capacity of more than 2,000MW of electricity to be used in the production of 700,000 tons of aluminum per annum.

Canadian engineering and project management company SNC-Lavalin and Australian professional services firm Worley Parsons have formed a joint partnership to serve as the engineering, procurement and construction management contractors for the project.

Joseph Anis, GE Energy’s region executive for the Middle East, said: Over the past year we have seen a growing number of opportunities in the Middle East and worldwide where we can apply our gas turbine technology for projects where the power is primarily used by our customers for industrial processes. The Emirates Aluminum (EMAL) project illustrates our ongoing commitment to supply gas turbines with the reliability and flexibility to meet the demands of these applications.