Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters, underlined its commitment to advance in Artificial Intelligence (AI) within its operations with the successful completion of “Green Anode Density Prediction” -- one of the many joint projects with Nasser Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Centre.

To celebrate this remarkable achievement, an honouring ceremony was held at Alba’s premises where Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali, and Nasser Artificial Intelligence R&D Centre CEO, Dr. Abdulla Naser Al Noaimi, honoured the Centre’s team involved in the project, in the presence of the Centre’s AI Executive Advisor, Dr. Jassim Haji, as well as other Alba and Nasser Vocational Training Centre (NVTC) officials.

Commenting on the achievement, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali, said:

“We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for driving the transformation towards AI in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Nasser Artificial Intelligence Research & Development Centre for selecting Alba to be amongst the first industrial companies in Bahrain for such collaboration.

Artificial Intelligence is a tool we want to adopt as without it, we won’t be able to advance and disrupt the norms in our business. We believe that the choices which we make today will simply give us more data about what to do next.”

Adding Further, Nasser Artificial Intelligence Research & Development Centre CEO, Dr Abdulla Naser Al Noaimi, indicated that the Centre aims at becoming one of the main pillars of Artificial Intelligence system in the Kingdom through its unique projects and smart solutions that contribute to the digital transformation initiatives in both government and private sector organizations and companies. He added that the R&D Arm of NVTC, will work on accelerating the pace of digitization, while heading towards a promising horizon in the knowledge-based economy, achieving the Bahrain Vision 2030 goals by young, ambitious Bahraini youth equipped with the necessary skills of this vital stage of national development. The team is focusing on providing creativity and innovation in a new technical suit that contributes to improving operations and enhancing productivity at the local and regional levels, by undertaking these qualitative projects with the various sectors inside and outside the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Green Anode Density Prediction is one of many joint projects to be implemented between Alba and Nasser Artificial Intelligence R&D Centre. The completed project consists of an artificial intelligence model that predicts green anode density based on process variables, in addition to a dashboard that allows users to enter the values of process parameters and get the predicted density, which helps users to optimise the process and achieve the desired density of green anodes.

-Ends-

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

[Ticker: ALBH]

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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