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Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, announced that it has successfully completed the hiring process for its Line 6 Expansion Project.
In line with the Kingdom’s 2030 Economic Vision, the Line 6 Expansion Project has created around 500 permanent direct jobs in Alba and will boost the downstream cluster by creating indirectly a few thousand job opportunities.
Alba is proud to state that the new recruits have started to join the Company and the last batch is expected to join in June 2018.
Alba’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali said:
“We are pleased to have successfully completed the hiring process for Line 6 Expansion Project, which will accelerate the various works associated with the pouring of the First Hot Metal on January 01, 2019.
Through this landmark Project, we have had the opportunity to further our commitment by bringing jobs to the people of Bahrain. As we progress with the construction of the Project, we are proactively training the new hires to get ready to carry-out respective responsibilities in Line 6 smelter and PS 5 facilities. By training our human capital, we are confident of turning challenges into opportunities and are strongly positioned to transform Line 6 Expansion Project from a blueprint into a bursting operation.”
One of the biggest brownfield expansions in the Region, the Line 6 Expansion Project bring Alba’s total production capacity to 1.5 million metric tonnes per year making it the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter.
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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 981,000 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.
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. Expected to begin production by January 1st 2019, 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 as well as the first tranche of the Export Credit Financing of c. US$ 700 million for Euler Hermes and SERV-covered facilities in July 2017. The Company is looking to secure the second tranche of the Export Credit Agency (ECAs) within the first quarter of 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 of March 31, 2018, Line 6 Smelter’s Overall Progress exceeded 49% (Engineering progressed more than 83% while Contracts and Procurement advanced by more than 92%); Power Station 5 & Power Distribution System Overall Progress exceeded 58% and 82% 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.
For further details, please contact:
Eline Hilal
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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© Press Release 2018
