| Author(s) |
Subah Yones AlShammari, Abdulrahman Al-Shammari , Ali Al-Shami, Brent Pekoba , Sultan Al-Boqami, Saad Al-Shammari, Umakanta Nayak , Yousef Alfarsi, Kishor Pant, Mohammed Al Hunaini |
| Abstract Scope |
The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and Alcoa joint venture is the largest fully integrated aluminum complex in Ras Alkair, featuring an alumina refinery, aluminum smelter, and rolling mill. The smelter began operations on December 12, 2012, with 720 pots using AP 37 technology, later upgraded to Alcoa 400 in May 2017, producing 805,000 tons annually. In November 2022, Ma’aden faced significant operational challenges when 304 pots were cut out due to anode collapses and other issues. Despite this, no power shutdown occurred due to precautionary measures. Within five months, all affected pots were safely restored without lost time incidents, and production targets returned to normal. The incident allowed for extensive autopsies, enhancing cathode design, preheating techniques, lining materials, and anode quality, ensuring Ma’aden’s commitment to customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. |