France In Bahrain July 2013 73 www.bahrainthismonth.com ALBAStanding Tall One of the largest modern aluminium smelters in the world, Alba Bahrain has distinguished itself for its technological strength and innovative policies. Alba’s inception marked the beginning of Bahrain’s strategy to diversify its economic base and reduce its dependence on oil. The aim was to establish an industry that would provide valuable export earnings, develop the country’s resources and create employment opportunities for Bahrainis. Alba officially commenced operations in 1971 as a 120,000 tonne per annum smelter. Today, it produces more than 890,000 metric tonnes per annum of the highest grade aluminium, with products including standard and T-ingots, extrusion billets, rolling slab, Properzi ingots and molten aluminium. Around 50 per cent of this output is supplied to Bahrain’s downstream aluminium industry, about 12 per cent exported to European markets and the rest goes to regional and international customers. The Alba plant comprises five reduction lines, cast houses, a dedicated carbon plant, a 550,000 metric tonne per annum coke calcining plant, a water desalination plant, fume treatment plants, a marine terminal and a 2,265 MW power plant consisting of four power stations. The plant also features a 10-hectare green oasis, with more than 7,600 trees and shrubs, a fruit and vegetable garden and an artificial lake. Alba’s early success established a blueprint for other non-oil industries to follow, including a thriving downstream aluminium industry. Today, Alba is a major contributor to the social, industrial and economic development of Bahrain, employing a workforce of around 3,000, of whom 87 per cent are Bahrainis. Consistently ranked as one of the top ten performers on a global scale, Alba continues to deliver on environmental guidelines and global safety standards.
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