Alba scoops best corporate governance award in Bahrain by Ethical Boardroom

MANAMA: Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter ex-China, is proud to announce that it has been the recipient of the ‘Best Corporate Governance Award’ in Bahrain by Ethical Boardroom for 2021.

The Ethical Boardroom Corporate Governance Awards recognise outstanding companies who have exhibited exceptional leadership in governance to include gender diversity. Such recognitions highlight the important role that corporate governance plays in determining a company’s success and a Board’s contribution to the creation of long-term value.

Commenting on this Award, Alba’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa said:

“Corporate Governance is about the way we do business in Alba, incorporating it in every business activity we have, and this award is a statement that our people participation is the essence of our strong governance.

Environment, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) matters sit at the top of Alba’s Board and Management priorities and ESG is fully integrated in our vision, mission and values.”

As a Company which has a dual-listing on Bahrain Bourse and London Stock Exchange, Alba operates in line with a set of Board-approved Corporate Governance principles in line with The Code of Bahrain (2018) and is monitored by Alba’s Board Nomination, Remuneration and Corporate Governance Committee.

Further insights on Alba’s Governance can be found in its Sustainability Report as published on its website www.albasmelter.com [the fifth edition of the Sustainability Report will be released by the end of Q2 2021].

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About Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)
[Ticker: ALBH]

Alba is the world’s largest aluminium smelter ex-China with a production of more than 1.548 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) (2020). With a dual listing on Bahrain Bourse and London Stock Exchange, the Company’s shareholders are Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company B.S.C. © (69.38%), SABIC Industrial Investment Company (SIIC) (20.62%) and General Public (10%).

In addition to molten metal, our diverse Value-Added Product (VAP) portfolio includes Foundry grade re-melt products (T-Ingots, Standard Ingots and Properzi Bars), Rolling Ingots (Slabs), Extrusion Ingots (Billets) and Unalloyed P1020 re-melt products. Around 79% of our products - from customised alloys to a variety of surface finishes -- are exported to more than 150 global customers through our sales offices in Europe, Asia, Singapore, and subsidiary office in the U.S.

Alba Campus comprises six Reduction Lines, three Power Stations, four Casthouses, four Carbon Plants along with other ancillary facilities. In addition to primary aluminium production, we also produce 530,000 mtpa of high-quality calcined petroleum coke at our own dedicated Coke Calcining Plant. Alba also yields 9.5 million cubic metres of potable water per annum from its dedicated seawater desalination plant.

Alba has carved an enviable reputation in Safety, Environment and Health, Sustainability and Quality Management. It is one of the few smelters in the world to have achieved Zero Lost Time Injuries (LTI) in 2019. Alba was recognized during 2020 with five categories of National Safety Council (NSC) awards - USA and Gold Medal Health and Safety Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) – UK. Alba was also awarded with the International Safety Award from British Safety Council (BSC) – UK in March 2021.

Alba brings value to its customers with the many globally-recognised certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001. Moreover, the Company attained the significant Automotive Quality Management System - IATF 16949 in 2018 and, Bronze Medal by EcoVadis and Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Certification in 2020.

Alba is committed to fostering greater sustainability across all our operations. In line with its CSR initiatives, Alba set-up the Region’s first-of-its-kind Spent Pot Lining (SPL) Treatment Plant in cooperation with Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment in 2019 to create a sustainable solution for the treatment of SPL with zero-waste. In 2020, Alba inaugurated its Fish Farm Project in collaboration with the Bahrain National Guard Consumer Association, thus boosting the Kingdom’s aquaculture and enriching the biodiversity around Alba’s operations.

Starting out in 1971 as a 120,000 mtpa smelter, Alba has continually delivered value to its customers, shareholders, and stakeholders. As we mark the Golden Jubilee of operations in 2021, we aspire to be more productive, innovative, and sustainable. For more information on Alba, please visit www.albasmelter.com

Alba External Grievance Mechanism

Alba’s External Grievance Mechanism receives and facilitates the resolution of any 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,

Alba’s External Grievance Mechanism is in line with Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank affiliated lending organisation.

Alba Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 was a year like no other and as one of Bahrain’s leading industrial companies, Alba’s response strategy to COVID-19 was initiated since January 2020 and was based on the guidelines of Bahrain National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Alba’s Executive team adapted an interactive approach from creating personal video messages, visiting shop-floor areas and engaging in virtual daily briefings with its Healthcare Centre team. Alba Management announced work-from-home and reduced working-hours where applicable especially for the female staff, and actioned plant-wide temperature checks for all shifts; social distancing protocols in offices, shop-floor areas and transport vehicles; frequent sanitization of all operational and non-operational areas; distribution of protective kits; installation of hand sanitizer dispensers across the Company and posted multilingual posters in various areas.

Despite COVID-19 outbreak, Alba continued to maintain stable operations thanks to its Business Continuity Plan and Emergency Preparedness Plan and sent-out few Letters of Assurance on Safe operations at Alba to all its stakeholders (customers, suppliers, and regulators) during 2020.

Alba, the Safety of our people – employees and contractors’ workers – always comes First. Whilst we continue to follow COVID-19 measures at all times, we remain focused on Safety, Efficient Operations and Lean Cost Structure.

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 

© Press Release 2021