Alba revises Line 7 plans, mulls over replacing Lines 1, 2, and 3 with modern facilities

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter ex-China, is reportedly thinking otherwise about its capacity expansion plans. Instead of proceeding with the plan of building a new Line 7, the company is considering installing new production facilities to replace the existing Lines 1, 2 and 3.

Image Source: Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)

The news came after Alba C.E.O. Ali Al-Baqali said on the sidelines of the Gateway Gulf Forum, “Now the intention is to demolish or stop the old lines, which are efficient from 1971. They are more than 50 years-plus, and we will replace them with new lines. Technically, this is not a new Line 7 project anymore because we are going to close Lines 1, 2 and 3.”

Sharing the essential details, Ali Al-Baqali also said the feasibility study for the project was started and executed by US firm Bechtel. Betchel is the same firm that was appointed to conduct a feasibility study for Line 7 and was also a contractor for Line 6, which was commissioned in 2019.

However, Alba is bothered about its overall aluminium production and capacity drop while the new facilities are under construction. Nonetheless, the replacement of Lines 1, 2 and 3 with modern facilities will enable Alba to achieve more output volume in the future while utilising existing assets at the site. For instance, there will be no need for a new power connection as the existing line will be utilised.

Alba has a separate capacity expansion plan for Lines 4 and 5. In September 2024, the Alba board approved the Line 4-5 Creep Up Project at an estimated investment of $30 million. This project, upon completion, is estimated to enhance Alba’s metal production by an additional 8,000 tonnes per year.

At the Gateway Gulf 2024 Forum, Alba made several other announcements, including reaffirming its partnership with Daiki Aluminium to form a joint venture firm, Alba-Daiki Sustainable Solutions (ADSS), for building an aluminium dross processing facility in Bahrain by September 2026. Alba will hold a 70 per cent stake in the JV and Daiki Aluminium will own 30 per cent.

The other announcement at the forum was Alba and ARRAY Innovation’s partnership to advance the former’s digital transformation journey under the Industry 4.0 framework.