Earlier this year, Solios engineers successfully negotiated a series of contracts to supply and install its latest technologies for the benefit of Sohar Aluminium.

The project is on track. Solios Engineering offices are busy finalising the drawings in order to start civil work and fabrication. 
Solios will implement four turnkey contracts for Sohar Aluminium. These are:
A  green anode plant of 36 tph including two major new technologies - Rhodax, the natural dry mix solution, and IMC (intensive mixing cascade). It includes a state-of-the-art Carbon Butts processing unit with two crushing stages instead of three compared to a conventional plant.
Two Gas Treatment Centres to treat emissions coming from 360 pots AP35 and fitted with TGT-RI filters including for the first time the AP - HDPS system for alumina dosing and distribution.
A Fume Treatment Centre for the new bake furnace, also fitted with TGT-RI filters.
Four tilting melting furnaces, each of 80-tonne capacity feeding two ingots lines.

Scott Kay of Bechtel (left) and Philippe Ramet, president of the Solios Group, signing the contract

The total amount of the order is above 100 million euros.  Solios is, after Bechtel and Alstom, the third largest contributor to the Sohar Aluminium Project.
Giving reasons for its success in winning the contract, a Solios spokesman said the company’s innovativeness in its various fields of expertise created value for the customer. That meant lower investment cost, lower operating costs and increased performances.
Each and every innovation is based on references around the world, confirming the reliability and efficiency of the new system to be implemented, the spokesman said. “Thanks to the extensive and challenging discussions that have taken place with Bechtel, the EPCM; AP, the technology provider, and customer representatives, we have also been able to optimise the layout in order to save money and ease the operation,” he continued.
Aware that the GCC region has energy resources to fuel smelters and also that it is business-friendly and seeks out technologically advanced companies, Solios chose to locate a large part of its subcontracting activities in the region.  “We have found first class entrepreneurs who are extremely professional and reliable. They have been part of our former successes and we have tightened our relations with them once again for Sohar,” the spokesman commented, adding that the approach had contributed to the credibility of the company’s offer for the Sohar plant.
Solios stresses that it will make all efforts towards safety. During its contracts with Alba, Mozal, Hillside, Alouette, Fjardaal, safety was a major point and it managed to reach a million man hours without any lost-time injury. Customers had presented congratulatory certificates to the company for the feat.
For Solios, safety begins at the design phase and due consideration is given for issues related to noise, fire protection and the environment. A risk-assessment system is put in place and it works on a day-to-day basis as each situation calls for a different approach. Big efforts are concentrated on training for operations and maintenance after and during start-up.
“Solios will contribute to the local economy by collaborating with local partners at all stages of the project, from manufacturing to construction,” the spokesman said.
Within the Sohar contract, Solios has been looking for partners in Oman and other GCC countries to execute the local portion of the contract (civil work, local fabrication, mechanical erection and electrical and instrumentation work). This GCC part will represent 35 to 40 per cent of the total contract value. Moreover, within the Omanisation programme, Solios will have Omanis making up 25 per cent of the staff and they will be trained by the company.