Alba's position as one of the world's leading aluminium smelters was bolstered with the recent replacement and upgrade of the indirect coke cooler at the Alba Petroleum Coke calciner.

A ceremony was held at the Alba Petroleum Coke to mark this accomplishment which is expected to generate greater efficiency and increased productivity as well as enable the company to meet its operational plans.

The event was attended by chief executive Laurent Schmitt, chief operations officer Isa Al Ansari, chief finance and supply officer Tim Murray, along with calcining and marine manager Prakash Kumar Jha, other managers as well as staff of the calciner and marine department.

The indirect coke cooler had exceeded its design service life by three years and a replacement was necessary.

The new equipment - weighing 180 metric tonnes - was shipped from Germany in a single piece, installed and commissioned in 30 days against the original plan of 45 days.

'Alba's petroleum coke calciner plant is one of only two calciners in the world, having a state-of-the-art indirect coke cooler, which helps in producing coke without any micro or macro cracks,' said Mr Schmitt.

'The upgrade was carried out during a month-long plant outage as against a contractual requirement of 45 days.

'With the new equipment in place, there will be emphasis on increased efficiency and productivity to support Alba's goal of being at the forefront of aluminium production.'

Alba is one of two aluminium smelters in the world to have a dedicated petroleum coke calciner plant which was built over 140,000 sq m of reclaimed land at the Alba marine terminal in May 2001.

In 2011, the calciner plant produced 425,000 metric tonnes of calcined petroleum coke and 24,500 cubic metres per day of potable water.-TradeArabia News Service