Unifico Copper, part of Switzerland-based Unifico GmbH, has started work on its two million square meter regional operating offices and processing facility for copper and gold in Ras Al Khaimah.
The facility, which is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2013, will eventually supply up to 500,000 tonnes of LME (London Metal Exchange) standard copper cathodes a year to the UAE and the Middle East.
Khurshid Shah, Chairman, Unifico Copper, said: “The level of support extended to us by His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and the team at Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (Rakia) was certainly commendable, and reaffirms all the positive facts we have been learning about the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Moreover, given the array of facilities and business incentives offered by RAKIA, Ras Al Khaimah was the obvious choice for us when deciding on the location to set up our regional offices and processing plant.”
“Taking into account the broad scope of our project and our objective to serve our future clients in this region in the most efficient and economical manner, it was imperative that we are geographically close to them. In Ras Al Khaimah, with its deep water port facilities of Mina Saqr and business friendly approach, the management of Unifico Group believes that it has found the perfect geographic location to complement the company’s future development and expansion in all regards. Our new facility will be the first plant in the Middle East to be set up by the owners of the mine themselves, with a lifespan as long as those of the Chilean mining sites. This will be a major contributor to the economy of the UAE and Arab world as a whole,” he added.
Jean Feghaly, General Manager, Rakia, said: “Unifico Copper is another valuable addition to RAKIA’s growing portfolio of companies. They can be assured of top rate infrastructure facilities and support to ensure that their operations carry on smoothly, in line with their plans to tap the market potential of this region.”
The new Unifico plant, which will adopt various environment friendly practices, will start with gradual production and then increase to the level of catering to the total requirement of the UAE within the next five to seven years from date of operation. The company also revealed that it will be providing onsite training to UAE nationals in various areas of specialisation, in addition to coordinating with local universities for recruiting the next generation of managers, administrators and engineers.