The region’s first high-voltage factory is on track to open in Jebel Ali, Dubai, this quarter, according to owner Ducab-HV.
The joint-venture company between Dubai Cable Company (Ducab), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), claimed that the US $136 million, 148m high tower is the highest industrial structure in the emirates.
Reaching 44 storeys, the tower, which is the most noticeable feature of the new Ducab-HV factory, will house extrusion equipment for the manufacturing of high-voltage products. The tower will also contain a series of clean-room facilities in the top levels to eliminate any risk of contamination of the critical cable insulation.
These types of high- voltage cables carry electricity loads great enough to power an entire downtown district”
Within one year of breaking ground, the vertical extrusion was completed in December 2010 by Khansaheb Civil Engineering firm.
“We are approaching the completion of the civil works and the first machines are already being installed. Commissioning will start in early 2011 followed by rigorous testing and then production of cables for the market later in the year,” Ducab-HV CEO Jon Vail said last month.
Ducab Chairman Ahmed Al Shaikh added that the project was on track for completion.
“These types of high-voltage cables carry electricity loads that are great enough to power an entire downtown district, and as such, we will ensure that the quality standards of our products surpass the highest international standards in the industry,” commented Al Shaikh.
The “speedy and efficient” construction of the factory was attributed to the combined efforts of the project team: “We have enjoyed working closely and successfully with the Ducab-HV workforce to deliver a quality contract in a very challenging time frame,” said Richard Browne, the operations manager at Khansaheb.
The firm held a ceremony last month marking the completion of the tower, which was attended by Ducab-HV board members, including DEWA managing director and CEO HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Transco deputy manager Saeed Al Darmaki and Ducab’s Al Shaikh.
Ducab is jointly owned by the Governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Its current manufacturing facilities occupy an area of 590,000m2 in Jebel Ali and nearly 330,000m2 in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, among two factories.
Today, the firm produces more than 110,000 copper tons equivalent of low-voltage, medium and high-voltage cables.
The company recently received the Mohammed Bin Rashid Business Excellence Award for achievements in the manufacturing sector. Speaking to The Big Project last year, Ducab marketing manager Ashish Chaturvedy estimated Ducab’s market share to be 50% in the emirates, with plans to reach a GCC market share of 20% in the “near future”.
FAST FACTS
•Ducab is the only power cable company that operates a copper-rod factory in the UAE
•Its UAE factories manufacture up to 110,000 tons of high, medium and low-voltage cables per year
•This amount is equal to the weight of 120,000 Toyota Land Cruisers, according to Ducab
•The firm has a share of 25% in India’s imported copper market