Aluminium to contribute 15pc to Bahrain's economy: Alba CEO

07/02/2018 05:09 AST

Bahrain's aluminium industry will account for 15 to 16 per cent of the kingdom's gross domestic product (GDP) with the beginning of the commercial operations of Aluminium Bahrain's (Alba) brownfield Line 6 Expansion Project next year, a top official said.

"The aluminium industry is one of the strategic sectors that has led Bahrain's economic diversification and currently accounts for 12 per cent of the kingdom's GDP. We see the contribution rising to 15 to 16 per cent with Line 6 Expansion Project," stated Alba's Chief Executive Officer Tim Murray.

Expected to begin production by January 1, 2019, the project will boost the smelter's annual production by 540,000 metric tonnes, bringing its total production capacity to 1.5 million metric tonnes per year.

With the ramp-up of production, approximately 50 per cent of its output will be sold to a vibrant downstream aluminium sector in the kingdom, while the rest will be exported, predominantly to the US, Europe and Asia, Murray said.

The biggest export market will continue to be the US, which is growing very fast and is aided by the Bahrain-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), he added. The sector, he pointed out, was also among the largest employers of Bahrainis with nationals accounting for nearly 85 per cent of Alba's employees.

Commenting on Alba's support for the GIF 2018, Murray said: "The Gulf Industry Fair is an important annual event that showcases Bahrain as a leading industrial hub in this region as well as promotes Bahrain's aluminium industry. As a significant contributor to the economy of Bahrain, Alba is proud to represent the aluminium industry at the GIF every year and we look forward to networking with our partners in this platform."

Alba is a Strategic Partner representing the Aluminium Sector at the Gulf Industry Fair 2018. The company achieved another a significant milestone with the First Cathode Sealing Operation, last month, an integral part of the potlining activities for the new Line 6 pots based on the Dubal DX Ultra Technology that is being employed at the Line 6 Smelter.

"We are very much pleased with the overall progress we have made on Line 6 Smelter. The focused-approach adopted by our team has yielded nicely on the progress of engineering (79 per cent), procurement (83 per cent), contracts (97 per cent) and construction (17 per cent) simultaneously," said Murray.

"We look forward to the on-schedule completion of Line 6 Expansion Project and have everything checked to be ready for commercial operations," he added.-

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