Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), soon to be the largest smelter in the world, achieved a breakthrough record by exceeding its 2018 Production Target of 1,000,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) to mark 1,011,101 mtpa. 2018 production volume of 1,011,101 mtpa is the highest-ever achieved in Alba’s history - up by 3% Year-over-Year versus 981,016 mtpa in 2017.

Commenting on this record in production volume, the Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray said:

“Exceeding 1 million metric tonnes for the 1st time in Alba’s history and making Bahrain proud is a testament to our dedicated workforce. This achievement could not have been accomplished without our unwavering commitment to Safety. My sincere thanks to all our employees and contractors for their extreme ownership in achieving this milestone. We also look forward to successfully complete the commissioning of Line 6 in 2019, which will take our production capacity to 1,500,000 mtpa and make Alba the largest smelter in the world.”

A ceremony to mark the milestone production was held on 06, January 2019 at Alba Oasis, which was attended by Alba Executive Management, Directors, Managers and employees from various departments.

It is noteworthy that this is the seventh year in a row that Alba has been surpassing its annual production -- 2012 production record of 890,217 mtpa; 2013 production record of 912,700 mtpa; 2014 production record of 931,427 mtpa; 2015 production record of 960,643 mtpa, 2016 production record of 971,420 mtpa and 2017 production record of 981,016.

-Ends- 

About Alba

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) - one of the largest and modern aluminium smelters in the world - is renowned for its premium grade aluminium products, technological strength and innovative policies, strict environmental guidelines and high track record for safety. Established in 1971 as a 120,000 tonnes per annum smelter, Alba today produces more than 1 million 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.

Alba is listed on both the Bahrain Bourse and London Stock Exchange, and the Company’s shareholders are Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (69.38%), SABIC Industrial Investment Company (20.62%) and the General Public (10%). 

About Line 6 Expansion Project 

Alba’s Line 6 Expansion Project is one of the largest brownfield developments in the region. Started production by 13 December 2018, this Project will boost the smelter’s per-annum production by 540,000 metric tonnes, bringing its total production capacity to 1.5 million metric tonnes per year.

With a CAPEX of approximately US$ 3 billion, the Line 6 Expansion Project involves the construction of a sixth pot line utilising EGA’s proprietary DX+ Ultra Technology, a 1,792 MW Power Station (Power Station 5) and other industrial services.

Bechtel is the EPCM contractor for the Line 6 Expansion Project smelter. For Power Station 5 (PS 5), GE and GAMA Consortium was awarded the EPC contract, while Siemens is the Power Distribution System contractor.  J.P. Morgan, Gulf International Bank (GIB) and National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) are the Financial Advisors for this Project. In June 2015, Alba Board approved the Line 6 Expansion Project and in November 2015, Alba secured the natural gas supply for this Project.

Alba successfully closed a US$ 1.5 Billion syndicated term-loan facility comprising two tranches: Conventional Facility & and Islamic Facility in October 2016, the 1st tranche of the Export Credit Financing of c. US$ 700 million for Euler Hermes and SERV-covered facilities in July 2017 and the first part of 2nd ECA-tranche of EUR 204.5 million for Bpifrance Assurance Export (“BpiAE”) and Euler Hermes-covered facilities in April 2018. The Company is looking to secure the final part of 2nd ECA-tranche by Q3 2018.

The Front End Engineering Design (FEED) study for the Project was completed in the first quarter of 2017. The construction site-works have started in the second quarter of 2017 while the mass earthworks was completed by the end of the third quarter of 2017 as per schedule. Alba has also laid the First Concrete in Potline 6 Foundation in May 2017 wherein the concrete foundations will reach 85,000 m3 upon completion by December 2018. As at November 30, 2018, Line 6 Smelter’s Overall Progress exceeded 77% (Engineering progressed by more than 96% while Contracts and Procurement advanced by 97%); Power Station 5 & Power Distribution System Overall Progress exceeded 80% and 96% respectively.

The Line 6 Expansion Project will make Alba the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter and be a significant economic boost for the Kingdom of Bahrain due to the many co-investment opportunities through local and foreign aluminium investments.

Alba External Grievance Mechanism 

Alba, in line with the Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank affiliated lending organisation, has launched its External Grievance Mechanism to receive and facilitate the resolution of the affected communities’ concerns and grievances about Alba’s Environment and Social (E&S) performance.

External grievances about Alba’s E&S performance can be logged via the Alba Integrity Line - an independently operated confidential reporting hotline in multiple languages - via a toll-free phone system or via the intranet 24 hours a day, every day.

For further details, please contact:

Eline Hilal

Senior Manager, Investor Relations and Corporate Secretary 

Tel:         (973) 1783 5100  

E-mail:   eline.hilal@alba.com.bh 

Website: www.albasmelter.com.bh  

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© Press Release 2019

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