The Sohar aluminium smelter, in Sohar, Oman, has poured its first metal and is expected to reach full production, at an initial 360 000 t/y, in December, diversified miner Rio Tinto said on Thursday.

Rio Tinto owns 20% of the plant, and Oman Oil Company and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority also have interests in the project.

The smelter uses Rio Tinto Alcan technology and will rank in the lowest quartile of the global industry cash cost curve, the firm said.

Rio Tinto Alcan will be responsible for technical and operational support, as well as sales and marketing of all Sohar aluminium metal exported from Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

"Rio Tinto Alcan is delighted to have expanded its presence in the dynamic Middle East Gulf region by providing not only cutting-edge technology but also operational know-how and management expertise to this project,” CE Dick Evans said in a statement.

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