Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the first aluminium smelter in the Gulf region, has been making steady progress with the execution of its flagship development, the Line 6 Expansion Project, said the company chairman.

“We are delighted to see that the Line 6 Expansion Project continues to progress on schedule as that will accelerate our position to be the largest single-site smelter in the world,” added Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa.

“I thank our EPCM contractor, International Bechtel Co. Ltd. (Bechtel), Alba CEO, Tim Murray and the Alba Line 6 Owner’s Team for their commitment to deliver our Project on a timely and safe manner.”

The site preparation, earth works and concrete (including precast) works continue to ramp-up with the overall project progress at 25 per cent through the end of July (including 50 per cent progress in engineering and 70 per cent progress in procurement and contracts).  In addition, the first structural steel is scheduled for erection in the new potroom in September 2017.

Bechtel’s president for Mining and Metals, Paige Wilson said:“We are thrilled to be breaking ground on Alba’s historic project. We also look forward to continuing to work with the Alba Line 6 Owner’s Team as the project targets First Hot Metal (FHM) by 1 January 2019 and to furthering our long-term partnership.”

This game changer, which involves the construction of sixth pot line, a 1,792 MW power station and other industrial services, is expected to begin production by January 1, 2019 and will boost the smelter’s per-annum production by 540,000 metric tonnes, bringing its total production capacity to 1.5 million metric tonnes per year. – TradeArabia News Service