Alba, the Bahrain-based aluminum producer, announced that it has successfully produced the First Hot Metal on December 13 at its Potline 6 Expansion Project.
Potline 6, which is being executed by Bechtel as the engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contractor, will make Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) the world's largest aluminium smelter once at full production. Adding 540,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) to Alba's capacity of 1,000,000 mtpa, this new 1.4-kilometer potline involves the construction of 424 pots in line 6, utilizing Emirates Global Aluminium's (EGA) proprietary DX+ Ultra Technology.
"We are very proud of this achievement. The Alba Potline 6 Project's 24-month schedule from Notice to Proceed (NTP) to First Hot Metal, or first aluminum, is six months faster than the industry standard. This is a world-class achievement for the Kingdom of Bahrain, Alba and Bechtel. This success was only made possible thanks to the very strong collaborative relationship Alba and Bechtel have formed," said Paige Wilson, President of Bechtel's Mining & Metals Global Business Unit.
Bechtel was appointed by Alba as the EPCM contractor with the responsibility to design and construct Potline 6 and support industrial services in April 2016 and received NTP in January 2017.
Potline 6 builds on a relationship between Alba and Bechtel that spans more than 25 years. Bechtel also previously served as EPCM contractor for the Line 4 and 5 expansions.
