Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) said it has successfully completed the Pot Lines 1 and 2 rectiformer replacement project with over 1 million work hours but not a single Lost Time Injury (LTI).

The project, which was managed by Alba Power Project Department along with its primary contractor Alstom Grid SAS, is considered to be one of the first brown field projects of this magnitude anywhere in the world, said a statement from Alba.

Alba’s commitment to boost productivity, increase capacity and enhance reliability of Pot Lines 1 and 2 were bolstered with the successful completion of the project, said a top official.

"The completion of this project will secure continued supply of power to pot lines 1 – 3, and thus, accommodate the recent increase in metal production, and also, the planned growth in productivity at the plant," stated the power station director Amin Sultan.

Commenting on the rectiformer replacement project, Sultan said, "The team faced severe challenges during the project execution phase and yet were able to complete the entire project without a single lost time injury. I would like to congratulate for this accomplishment, and for demonstrating that placing safety as a priority does produce results."
 
Alba’s chief executive Tim Murray complimented the project team on the achievement during a special ceremony.

Present at the event were Mazen Hamadallh, Alstom Grid SAS commercial VP – Near & Middle East Region, Eric Lecaille, the director of operations – Power Electronics Applications along with other senior officials from Alstom Grid SAS.

The new units were custom made for Alba by Alstom Grid SAS. They are packed with 30 per cent higher capacity equipment while some units are being installed with cross-connection facilities to provide additional back-up power to Pot Lines 1 – 3, said Sultan.

Acciording to him, Alba had contracted Alstom Grid for the replacement of the Pot Lines 1 & 2 rectiformers in mid-2008.

The project involved the replacement of 10 rectifiers responsible for providing the power supply to Pot Lines 1 & 2. It took nearly five years for Alstom Grid SAS to manufacture and install ten units ( five for each pot line).

The project objectives were accomplished without major interruptions to production from the two pot lines, he added.

Besides Sultan, project team leader PK Kasinathan and members of Alba Power Project department who were involved in rectiformer replacement project were also present.-TradeArabia News Service