Aluminium Bahrain (Alba)’s Board of Directors has approved a $21 million budget to increase production and upgrade facilities over the course of 2003. In line with its Five-Year Business Plan, the initiative will increase Alba's coke calcining plant capacity from 450,000 to 600,000 tons per annum to maximize export revenue.
The finance scheme will also upgrade casting facilities in the casthouse, introduce a new pot removal crane system for Lines 1-3 and automate the monitoring of environmental emissions from the Reduction Lines. The expansion is forecasted to increase Alba's contribution to the economy from $200 million to $300 million per annum.
Alba is a 520,000-ton per annum aluminium smelter. As well as its reduction lines and casthouses, the company has a carbon department and a 1,500-megawatt power plant. A 450,000-ton per annum coke calcining plant is also in operation at the company's marine terminal. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
