Construction work on a sixth potline at Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) was given the go-ahead yesterday (July 6).

Chairing the weekly Cabinet meeting, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa welcomed the landmark plan, which will boost Bahrain’s standing as a major aluminium producer, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Deputy Premier and Mumtalakat Holding Company chairman Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa briefed the session about the $3.5-billion expansion.

A major bulk of $2.5 billion will be allotted to build the smelter and the remaining $1 billion will be pumped to build the fifth Alba energy plant.

Work on the 1.4-km smelter is expected to start in the first half of next year and become operational by late 2018. The mega project will boost the Alba annual production by an additional 514,000 tonnes per annum.

The Premier gave directives to fast-track the implementation of judicial processes, whether civil, commercial or Sharia, in co-ordination with relevant bodies.

He stressed the importance of incorporating technology, retracking procedures and using all available means to ensure the fast implementation of rulings and resolutions. - TradeArabia News Service