Exploring Alba: Bahrain's Ancient History And Culture

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) is one of the world's largest aluminium smelters outside of China, producing more than 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum. The company was incorporated in 1968 and began commercial operations in 1971 as a 120,000 metric tonnes per annum smelter. Alba's inception marked the beginning of Bahrain's strategy to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil. The company is listed on both the Bahrain Bourse and the London Stock Exchange and exports around 79% of its products to more than 150 global customers.

Alba's history and inception

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) is one of the world's largest aluminium smelters, producing more than 1.548 million metric tonnes per annum. With a dual listing on the Bahrain Bourse and London Stock Exchange, Alba's major shareholders include Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (69.38%), SABIC Industrial Investment Company (20.62%), and the general public (10%).

Alba was incorporated by Charter in 1968 and officially commenced its operations in 1971 as a 120,000 metric tonnes per annum smelter. The inception of Alba marked the beginning of Bahrain's strategy to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil. Its early success established a blueprint for other non-oil industries, including the development of a thriving downstream aluminium industry in Bahrain.

Alba's plant comprises six reduction lines, four cast houses, four carbon plants, a seawater desalination plant, 12 fume treatment plants, a marine terminal, and five power stations. The plant also features a 13-hectare oasis, with over 15,000 trees and shrubs and an artificial lake.

Alba's products include standard and T-ingots, extrusion billets, rolling slabs, properzi ingots, and molten aluminium. The company supplies around 50% of its output to Bahrain's downstream aluminium industry, with the rest exported to regional and international customers across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.

Alba has received numerous awards and recognition for its commitment to safety, technological strength, innovative policies, and strict environmental guidelines. The company has implemented several capacity-building initiatives to boost the nationalization of its workforce, with 86% of its employees being Bahraini nationals.

Alba's products and production capacity

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) is the first aluminium smelter in the Middle East. It began its commercial operations in 1971 with an annual capacity of 120,000 metric tons per year. Alba is one of the world's largest aluminium smelters with a production capacity of more than 1.62 million metric tons per annum (as of 2023).

Alba produces a variety of high-quality aluminium products, including standard and T-ingots, extrusion billets, rolling slabs, Properzi ingots, and molten aluminium. Their extrusion ingots are widely used in the construction industry for windows and door frames, transportation, engineering, and consumer durables. The company's high-quality rolling ingots are used in rolling mills for manufacturing aluminium foil and sheet products, as well as automotive products and aluminium beverage cans. Alba's T-ingots are available in both P1020 form and in foundry alloys.

Alba's Properzi Bars (Foundry Alloys) are produced using state-of-the-art casting and metal treatment systems, exceeding stringent quality requirements. Their P1020 and higher-grade LME sows conform to London Metal Exchange standards and are used in various remelting and casting applications, such as pressure cookers and the facades of skyscrapers. Alba also produces high-quality molten aluminium with an average purity exceeding 99.85%.

In 2021, Alba set a new production record of 1,561,222 metric tonnes, breaking its previous record set in 2020. Alba's Line 6 Expansion Project, with a CAPEX of approximately US$3 billion, is expected to boost the company's production capacity further.

Alba's shareholders and customers

Albas Shareholders and Customers

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) is the first aluminium smelter in the Middle East. It was officially incorporated in 1968 and began commercial operations in 1971. Alba's shareholders are Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (69.38%), SABIC Investment Company (20.62%), and the General Public (10%). The company went public in 2010, launching its first IPO, and was listed on the Bahrain Bourse and the London Stock Exchange under the symbol "ALBH".

Alba is one of the world's largest aluminium smelters, with a production capacity of more than 1.62 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa). The company has a diverse range of customers, with its products being used in various end applications. Alba's major customers for molten aluminium include Midal Cables, Bahrain Alloys Manufacturing Company (BAMCO), Bahrain Welding Wire Products Mfg. Co. (BWP), and Bahrain Atomizers International (BAI).

Alba produces high-quality aluminium products, including standard ingots, rolling ingots, T-ingots, and Properzi bars. These products are used in a variety of industries, such as construction, transportation, engineering, automotive, and consumer durables.

In addition to its aluminium business, Alba is also committed to community development and environmental responsibility. The company's plant features a 13-hectare oasis, with over 15,000 trees and shrubs, and an artificial lake. Alba's seawater desalination plant provides potable water to Bahrain's Electricity & Water Authority for general consumption in the Kingdom.

Alba has also introduced capacity-building initiatives to boost the nationalization of its workforce, with 86% of its employees being Bahraini nationals.

Another company with the name Alba is Alba Mineral Resources, a mineral exploration and development company with a strong portfolio of mining assets and investments. It is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, with 7,733,688,996 ordinary shares issued.

Corporación Financiera Alba, or Alba, is an investment holding company listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange Market since 1986. It is primarily owned by shareholders of the March Group, one of the key family-controlled business and financial groups in Spain. Alba is devoted to long-term investments through the acquisition of minority stakes in listed and non-listed companies across various industries.

Alba's environmental impact and sustainability efforts

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) is widely regarded as one of the top ten performers globally in the aluminium smelting industry. Alba's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility is evident in its operations and initiatives. Here is an overview of Alba's environmental impact and sustainability efforts:

Environmental Impact

Alba, as one of the world's largest aluminium smelters, has a significant environmental impact. The company's operations require a substantial amount of energy, which is provided by three power stations fuelled by nearby gas fields. With its three natural gas turbine power stations, Alba has a total power-generating capacity of 3,665 MW ISO, equivalent to the average power consumed in Bahrain.

Sustainability Efforts

Alba has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact and promote sustainability:

• Green Power Sources: Alba's power stations utilise natural gas as fuel, which is a cleaner energy source compared to other fossil fuels.
• Seawater Desalination Plant: Alba operates a seawater desalination plant that was commissioned in 2001. This plant uses waste heat from the calcining process to generate steam for potable water production. Alba's potable water is sold to Bahrain's Electricity & Water Authority and is also used for various purposes within the company, including irrigating the HRH Princess Sabeeka Oasis.
• Calcined Petroleum Coke (CPC): Alba is one of only two smelters globally with a dedicated coke calciner. CPC is a critical raw material for producing carbon anodes used in the aluminium smelting process.
• Environmental Awards: Alba has been recognised for its sustainability and environmental efforts through awards such as the Green World Award 2016 for Environmental Best Practice and the Gulf Aluminium Council's 2014 Health & Safety Award under the Smelters Category.
• Community Development: Alba prioritises community development and has introduced capacity-building initiatives to boost the nationalisation of its workforce. 86% of Alba's employees are Bahraini nationals.
• Sustainable Aluminium Production: Alba has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable aluminium production by forming strategic partnerships. For example, at the Gateway Gulf 2024 investment forum, Alba and Daiki Aluminium Industry Company Ltd. announced their intention to establish a joint venture, "Alba-Daiki Sustainable Solutions (ADSS)," to create a sustainable aluminium dross processing facility in Bahrain.
• Digital Transformation: Alba is embracing digital transformation to enhance its sustainability efforts. The company has partnered with ARRAY Innovation, a Bahrain-based leader in AI and cloud-native digital solutions, to accelerate its Industry 4.0 digitalisation journey through advanced AI, data analytics, and automation solutions.

Alba's awards and recognition

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) is widely regarded as one of the top ten performers globally in aluminium smelting. Alba has received numerous awards and recognition for its high track record in safety, technological strength, innovative policies, and strict environmental guidelines.

In 2016, Alba received the Gold Award for Occupational Health and Safety by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The company also received the Green World Award in the same year for its commitment to environmental best practices. Alba's dedication to occupational health and safety was further recognised in 2015, as it received the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award by the National Safety Council in the USA and the International Safety Award by the British Safety Council. In addition, the company was awarded the Gulf Aluminium Council's Health and Safety Award under the Smelters Category in 2014.

Alba's commitment to safety and environmental responsibility is evident in its operations. The company has introduced several capacity-building initiatives to boost the nationalization of its workforce, with 86% of its employees being Bahraini nationals. Alba's inception marked the beginning of Bahrain's strategy to diversify its economy away from oil, and its success established a blueprint for other non-oil industries in the country.

The company's dedication to sustainability and community development is also noteworthy. Alba has formed strategic partnerships to accelerate its Industry 4.0 digitalisation journey and promote sustainable aluminium production. These partnerships aim to leverage advanced AI, data analytics, and automation solutions to enhance Alba's operations further.

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