Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) commissions Potline 6 on December 13, 2018

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has officially announced the commissioning of its Potline 6 with the First Pot Energisation on Thursday December 13, 2018. This is the smelter’s first step towards becoming the world’s largest aluminium smelter.

Alba made a breakthrough by bringing forwards the First Hot Metal milestone ahead of its scheduled date on January 01, 2019, making it the fastest construction in the history of aluminium industry.

The commissioning ceremony, held under the patronage of Alba’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa, was attended by the Executive Vice President - Midstream Operations, EGA, Dr. Ali Al Zarouni and other key EGA officials along with Alba’s Board of Directors, CEO Tim Murray, Deputy CEO Ali Al Baqali, Alba’s Executive Management team, Bechtel Project Director Denis Garrity and other senior Bechtel officials.

Commenting on this achievement, Alba’s Chairman Shaikh Daij Al Khalifa said: “On this dual occasion, the National Day and the commissioning of Potline 6, I would like to express my sincere congratulations and utmost appreciation to Bahrain’s leadership for their guidance and wise directives, and to the Government of Bahrain for endorsing Alba’s Line 6 Expansion Project and for trusting us to achieve this landmark project.”

He expressed his pleasure in having the commissioning of Potline 6 safely ahead of schedule and thanked Bechtel, the EPCM contractor and Alba’s Executive Management and employees and all other contractors for the smooth accomplishment of the task.

The commissioning starts the ramp-up process of 424 pots in Potline 6 which will make Alba the largest smelter in the world once it is complete. 

Bechtel’s Mining and Metals Global Business Unit President Paige Wilson added:

“We are very proud of this achievement. The Alba Potline 6 Project’s 24-month schedule to First Hot Metal, or first aluminium, is six months faster than the industry standard. This is a world-class achievement for Bahrain, Alba and Bechtel.”

Alba’s Line 6 Expansion Project is one of the largest brownfield developments in the region, which will boost the smelter’s per-annum production by 540,000 tonnes, bringing its total production capacity to 1.5 million metric tonnes per year.