Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), one of the largest aluminium smelters in the world, recently marked the 10th year of operations of its Reduction Line 5.

Inaugurated by HRH, The Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa in 2005, Line 5 was a historic milestone in the Middle East’s aluminium industry, said a statement from the company.

It expanded Alba’s annual aluminium production by adding 307,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa), making it the largest aluminium smelter in the world outside of Eastern Europe with a total output of 827,000 mtpa, it said.

Line 5 set the world record for the fastest and safest start-up of an aluminium reduction line of 77 days without a single loss time injury (LTI), it added.

At 1.2 km, Line 5 was also the world's longest reduction lines back then, with 336 pots using one of the most advanced technologies -- AP30.

To date, Line 5 produces more than 345,000 mtpa of liquid metal as compared to its original capacity of 320,000 mtpa with the commencement of its operations in 2005, said the statement.

Over the last decade, there has been a remarkable 8 per cent growth in its production capacity, majority of which has taken place in the last three years with minimal investment and by using internal resources, it said.

Isa Al Ansari, chief operations officer, Alba, said: “We are proud of what Alba has achieved since 1971 and for its contributions to Bahrain. All our accomplishments are the results of our employees’ commitment, hard work and capabilities, and I thank them for their dedication.”

“We now look forward to attaining new heights with the Line 6 Expansion Project,” he added.

Alba will embark on a historical journey with the Line 6 Expansion Project. Expected to begin production in early 2019, the project upon full ramp-up will bring Alba’s total production capacity to approximately 1,450,000 mtpa making it the largest single site smelter in the world upon completion, it added. – TradeArabia News Service