Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) hosted a reception for the local contractor and supplier community to highlight the opportunities that have been created for the Bahraini companies in the Line 5 Project and to brief them on the strategies that will be implemented.
The reception was attended by over 200 local contractor and supplier representatives. The presentation provided the attendees with a general overview of the Line 5 Project, and a schedule of the on-site activities with a local spend of $520 million out of an estimated budget of one billion dollars to build the smelter portion of the project.
During the briefing session, the representatives were informed that they would be required to follow rules and regulations during construction, so as to meet the required Bahrainization levels, the mobilization of manpower and equipment to ensure maximum on-site safety.
“With well over 2,000 Bahraini workers on board, Alba has rightly attained the status of a prominent supporter of the local community. With the Line 5 Project, Alba will further contribute towards the development of the country both from an economic as well as a social perspective,” said Chief Executive Officer of Alba, Bruce Hall.
The presentation also explained how the Line 5 Project will position Alba as the largest smelter outside of Eastern Europe and will bring about the recognition of Bahrain on an international level.
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. The company was officially opened in 1971 and its shareholders today are the Government of Bahrain, Sabic Industrial Investments and Breton Investments.
Alba's Line 5 expansion, due for completion in June 2005 will expand the company’s annual production by a further 307,000 tons per annum. At a total cost of $ 1.7 billion, the expansion will include a new power station, carbon, casthouse and other facilities. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
