Selecting technology for achieving 300,000 T/year—why do we need to compete pot technology?

Abstract

INALUM has an ambition to increase its primary Aluminium production to be minimum 300,000 T/year in 2021 year. To achieve such target, several production facility improvement programs have been established. Some of them are under execution while the other are under preparation. One of the programs is a pot technology upgrade at 1 pot room. INALUM intends to compete the pots technology to understand the different typical operation atmosphere especially between western and Chinese technology. The upgrading pot technology project is divided into 2 phases. The first phase is called the pilot project and the second phase is expansion to 1 pot room (170 pots). In pilot project phase, INALUM has appointed 2 providers to implement their technologies at 8 pots demonstrate their best capability and performance to fulfil INALUM requirement. Some considerations regarding the selection are construction schedule and execution, commissioning phase, pot operation performance, and financial aspect. The above aspects have been challenged in terms of concept during bid process and actual condition after pilot project ends.