Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters, has introduced a new alloy ‘6060.HE’ as part of its AA6060 alloy family that is aimed at the Company’s extruder customers. Produced in a billet form with a wide range of applications in the construction sector, this new alloy has a faster extrusion rate that will improve the process efficiency and productivity for its users.

Alba’s new 6060.HE alloy has been developed in collaboration with the University of Bahrain in terms of enhancing the scientific research studies associated with this alloy production and Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Company (BALEXCO), being one of the leading aluminium extrusion producers in the Region and Alba’s long-standing customer which provided extensive support in developing the 6060.HE alloy by way of field trials, visits, and technical feedback.

Commenting on this occasion, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali stated:

“We are pleased to be adding a new alloy to our range of products, a quality product that will enhance the performance and productivity of our customers as well as their competitiveness. Proudly produced in Bahrain by lead national capabilities, we aim to advance with this new developed product our presence in new markets and boost it in the existing ones.

It has taken lots of efforts and hard work to get to where we are -- the 6060.HE alloy is the successful outcome of the collaboration between three leading Bahraini entities -- Alba, the University of Bahrain and BALEXCO -- which underlines the fifth priority of Alba’s ESG Roadmap ‘Collaboration and Partnerships’.”

On his part, Dr. Fouad Mohammed Al Ansari, the President of the University of Bahrain, stated: "This collaboration resulted in the successful study that focussed on improving aluminium extrusion processes, and identifying new alloys that contribute to enhancing the quality and performance of manufactured extruded products. The study relied on statistical experimental design methods to develop a model capable of predicting the ratios of additives to aluminium and provide optimal heat treatment. He also emphasised that the results of this study will serve as a strong catalyst to enhance future scientific research in the aluminium industry.”

Adding further, BALEXCO’s Chairman Jassim Seyadi said:

“Alba has been our sole supplier of Aluminium Billets to be used for our extrusion presses and we are happy that we could partner with them and the University of Bahrain in the development and trials for the new 6060.HE alloy. The newly developed billets have been tested at BALEXCO and the usage of these billets helps in improving the extrusion speed and overall production efficiency without compromising on the product quality.

Alba’s team has been very supportive throughout the development and trials, and we look forward to further improve the billets, which would be useful to all extrusion clients of Alba.” 

The development process of the 6060.HE alloy started in January 2022 and its commercial production commenced in October 2022 following extensive laboratory-scale, field-scale tests and evaluations. Alba has already developed a customer base for this new product with 10 local and overseas customers spanning the globe.

-Ends-

About Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)

At plus-1.6 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) (2022), Alba is one of the largest smelters in the world with more than 50 years of excellence in Operations, Safety, Environment and Socio-Economic Development.

A blue-chip asset of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Alba produces high-quality Aluminium products in the form of Standard and Value-Added Products (VAP)s, which are exported to more than 240 global customers through its sales offices in Europe (Zurich), Asia (Singapore) and subsidiary office in the U.S. Alba is dual listed on Bahrain Bourse and London Stock Exchange and its shareholders are Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company B.S.C. © (69.38%), SABIC Industrial Investments Company (SIIC) (20.62%) and General Public (10%). Alba holds globally-recognised certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 45001, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 22301:2012 Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) and ASI Performance Standard Certification and Ecovadis Certification.

As the first aluminium smelter in the Middle East, Alba sits at the heart of a thriving aluminium downstream sector in Bahrain, which accounts for approximately 12% of the Kingdom's GDP. As one of the biggest national companies, it has ensured not only the employment of Bahrain nationals (85% in 2022) but also the enhancement of their capabilities through education, training, and development initiatives at every stage of their career.

Alba is recognised as one of the top industrial companies in the world with high standards in Environment practices, Social contribution and Corporate Governance. Launched in February 2022, the Company’s ESG Roadmap outlines 6 priority areas - (1) Decarbonisation, (2) Green Energy & Aluminium, (3) Circular Economy & Secondary Aluminium, (4) Employee Welfare, (5) Collaboration & Partnership and (6) Transparency, Communications & Due Diligence. Since its inception, Alba has invested into numerous environment, sustainable and socio-economic development projects that have had a positive impact on the society. Alba’s first-of-its-kind US$37.5 million zero-waste Spent Pot Lining Treatment Plant, the upcoming 5-7 MW Solar Farm Project and the Power Station 5 Block 4 Project are tangible efforts to meet the goals of the Net Zero Carbon targets by 2060 led by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain. Alba will also play a crucial role in the upcoming Aluminium Downstream Park, which will increase the contribution of non-oil sectors to the GDP of Bahrain.

Alba’s motto ‘Safety First, Safety Always’ has ensured that the Safety and well-being of its employees and contractors’ workforce remain a top priority. The Company broke all previous records in Safety and topped 30 million Safe working-hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) on 01 September 2022 for the first-time in its history. The Company has been recognised internationally for its excellent Safety and Health track record with awards such as the RoSPA Gold Medal Award (9 years in a row) and International Safety Award with Merit from British Safety Council, as well as six major National Safety Council (NSC) USA awards for 2021. Alba has also been recognised for its initiatives to produce Aluminium responsibly through awards such as Top ESG performer in Bahrain by ESG Invest, Safeguard Label from Bureau Veritas and Best Corporate Governance Award by Ethical Boardroom.

Alba Power Station 5 Block 4 Expansion Project

Alba Power Station 5 (PS5) Block 4 is a Combined Cycle Power Plant that is an expansion of the existing PS5.

PS5 Block 4 Project is the addition of a fourth Block of similar 1:1:1 configuration with J-class gas turbine technology and with minimum nominal ISO rating of a 680.9 MW and includes tie into the existing 220kV Substation. The efficiency of this combined cycle power plant is much higher than the combined cycle power plants of PS3 and PS4. On completion of PS5 Block 4 Expansion Project, the nameplate capacity of PS5 will increase from 1,800 MW to 2,481 MW.

Mitsubishi Power & SEPCOIII consortium will be responsible to design, engineer, procure, construct and commission Block 4. PS5 Block 4 commercial operations are expected to begin in Q4 2024.

Alba Stakeholder Engagement Plan

Alba’s ‘Stakeholder Engagement Plan’ outlines the Company’s communication with all its stakeholders including the community, the Environment and Social impacts as well as mitigation controls for its operations in addition to its external Grievance Mechanism through the Code of Conduct, for any stakeholder(s) or the public to raise any concerns or issues.

Alba’s External Grievance Mechanism

Alba Integrity Line is an independently operated confidential reporting hotline for all stakeholders, employees, contractors and commercial partners, and broader community, to report on a confidential basis, any potential breaches of Alba’s Code of Conduct, as well as Environment and Social (E&S) Impacts. Alba Integrity Line is available in multiple languages - via a toll-free phone system or via the intranet and the Company’s website www.albasmelter.com 24 hours a day.

For further details, please contact:
Eline Hilal
Director, Investor Relations, Insurance & Corporate Secretary
Investor Relations Department
E-mail:   eline.hilal@alba.com.bh
Website: www.albasmelter.com

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