Alba appoints Bechtel as EPCM contractor for Line 6 Expansion Project

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based leading international aluminium smelter, is pleased to announce International Bechtel Co. Ltd. (Bechtel) as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) contractor for its landmark Line 6 Expansion Project.

Under the terms of the contract, Bechtel will be responsible to design and construct the sixth potline as well as support industrial services.

Alba will be the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter upon completion of the Line 6 Expansion Project, which will boost its production by 540,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) bringing Alba’s total production capacity to 1,500,000 mtpa. Line 6 will have 424 pots that will use the proprietary EGA DX+ Ultra technology thus significantly increasing operating efficiencies.

Commenting on this occasion, Alba’s Chairman of Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa said: “The appointment of Bechtel is a step forward towards delivering the Line 6 Expansion Project, which is a significant milestone for the Kingdom of Bahrain. Alba and Bechtel have a history that spans over 25 years, and we are confident that Bechtel will deliver excellence at all times.”

Commenting on this occasion, Bechtel’s President for Mining and Metals, Shaun Kenny said: “Bechtel is grateful and privileged to have been selected to work with Alba to develop the sixth potline. Our shared values of safety and quality, high expectations and pride in achievement have underpinned project success since our first engagement with Alba over 25 years ago, to our most recent, the completion of Line 5 in 2005. When Alba added Line 5, it was at that time the world’s longest potline. We are proud to be working with Alba again to add Line 6, to make Alba the largest single site smelter in the world and mark another world class achievement for Bahrain, Alba and Bechtel.”

Bechtel has extensive industry specific experience in the region and was previously the EPCM contractor for Alba’s Line 4 and 5 expansions.