Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba) host of the 23rd Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL 2019), that will be held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, held a Press Conference on Tuesday, 15 October 2019 at the Gulf Hotel, Kingdom of Bahrain to announce more details of ARABAL 2019.

Led by Chairman of the Arabal Organising Committee Mohammed Al-Naki, the Press Conference was attended by the founding members: Mohammed Yahya, EGA (Arabal Vice Chairman); Khalifa Al-Mazrouei, EGA; Jameel Shakeel, Sohar Aluminium; Mahmoud Fawzy Sharaf, Egyptalum; Ghannam Al Ghannam, Maa’aden; and Abdulla Seyadee, Alba. Alba’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali along with Alba’s Executive Management team were present at the Press Conference.

On the occasion of the Press Conference, Alba’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa said:

“ARABAL has become one of the much-thought events in the global aluminium industry with a major focus on the challenges and future opportunities that affect the business. Alba is proud to host ARABAL 2019 and we look forward to welcoming everyone in Bahrain – our industry peers, delegates and sponsors. We also thank the ARABAL Organising Committee and our partners for their constant support towards ARABAL.”

Adding Further, the Acting Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali stated:

“ARABAL is one of the most unique events as it is a platform that attracts not only delegates but also exhibitors from all around the world. ARABAL, this year, coincides with Alba’s transformation into the world’s largest smelter with Line 6 Expansion Project.”

ARABAL 2019 is being held from 19 to 21 November 2019 at Gulf Hotel, Bahrain. ‘Shaping the Future of Aluminium in the Arab Region’ is the theme for ARABAL 2019 and will witness more than 35 renowned speakers, who will address substantial topics such as ‘Impact of current economic challenges on the aluminium industry’, ‘Environment, sustainability and recycling’ and ‘Bahrain post Line 6’.

For more information on ARABAL 2019, please visit www.arabal.com 

-Ends-

About Arabal 

The Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL) is the premium trade event for the Middle East’s aluminium industry and the only conference in the world attended by every single primary aluminium manufacturer in the region. Therefore, it is the conference of choice for anyone interested in the Middle East aluminium industry.

ARABAL first began in 1983 with Kuwait Aluminium Co. bringing together the leading figures in Middle East Aluminium to strengthen ties and discuss the issues of the day to provide an overview about the entire aluminium industry. Over the past 35 years, it has become an event of international repute, bringing together leaders from the aluminium industry across the world to attend, speak, and exhibit, at the event. 

About Alba

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the 1 million-metric tonnes smelters in the world, is one of the largest aluminium producers in the world. 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%).

Starting-out as a 120,000 metric tonne per annum (mtpa) smelter in 1971, Alba’s production for 2018 stood at plus-1 million metric tonnes. Alba’s product portfolio comprises high-grade aluminium and Value-Added Products that include standard and T-ingots, extrusion billets, rolling slabs, properzi ingots and molten aluminium. The Company is well-known for its strong Safety culture, employee development and work culture for value-creation and sustainable operations.

About Line 6 Expansion Project 

The pride of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Alba’s Line 6 Expansion Project will make Alba the world’s largest aluminium smelter.

Alba’s Line 6 Expansion Project is one of the biggest brownfield developments in the Middle East Region. With a CAPEX of approximately US$ 3 billion, the Line 6 Expansion Project involves the construction of a sixth pot line using EGA’s proprietary DX+ Ultra Technology, a 1,792 MW Power Station (Power Station 5) utilising the world’s first H-class General Electric (GE) 9HA Gas Turbine (GT) and other industrial services.

Alba Potline 6 was commissioned on 13 December 2018, ahead of schedule, with the delivery of the First Hot Metal. Line 6 Expansion Project progress has been fast-paced since then with successfully starting 212 pots which is equivalent to 50% of Potline 6 total capacity. Alba is now looking at the safe commissioning of the remaining 212 pots and to move closer to full production by Q3 2019.

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 Agencies (ECA) Financing of c. US$ 700 million for Euler Hermes and SERV-covered facilities was closed in July 2017 while the first part of 2nd ECA-tranche of EUR 204.5 million for Bpifrance Assurance Export (“BpiAE”) and Euler Hermes-covered facilities was secured in April 2018.  Alba successfully closed the final instalment of the 2nd ECA-tranche - c.US$136 million and c. EUR90 million from ECA supported-facilities - by end of 2018.

As of 30 September 2019, Line 6 Smelter’s Overall Progress exceeded 98%. Power Station 5 & Power Distribution System Overall Progress exceeded 97% and by over 99% respectively.

Line 6 Expansion Project will be transformational for the Kingdom of Bahrain as it will significantly boost employment opportunities for Bahrainis at both Alba and the local downstream market. It will also present many co-investment opportunities through local and foreign aluminium investments in the Kingdom of Bahrain.   

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 & Corporate Secretary
Investor Relations Department
Tel:         (973) 1783 5100
E-mail:   eline.hilal@alba.com.bh
Website: www.albasmelter.com  

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