Nicosia, Oct 18: As a result of significant investments and the construction of several new smelters, the share of the Gulf Cooperation Council states in global aluminium production is expected to increase by 150 per cent by 2010.

This estimate belongs to the organizers of Aluminium Dubai, a major trade show that will take place from 29 to March 31 in Dubai next year.

Amanda Westerman, of Reed Exhibitions Middle East, said that the GCC currently accounts for four per cent of current global aluminium production, but this share is expected to go up to 10 per cent by 2010.

"The Gulf’s growing focus on economic diversification has boosted demand for aluminium and investments in the sector have increased almost two-fold since 2002 to reach eight billion dollars.

Aluminum production, which was once confined to western countries, is now shifting to the developing countries that either have the raw materials or have the energy resources to produce aluminum, namely, the GCC region with its abundant energy resources.

The GCC region has two established smelters in the UAE and Bahrain.

UAE''s Dubai Aluminium (Dubal) is currently one of the largest single-site aluminum operators in the eastern world, producing 900,000 tons of aluminium a year. 

The other smelter is that of Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) with a capacity of producing 860,000 tons a year.

Another eleven smelters are either under construction or in the planning stage in the Gulf. (ANI)