Aluminum Bahrain Adds Potline Technology and 400,000 Tons of Smelter Capacity

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Aluminum Bahrain (Alba), which is currently the fourth-largest aluminum smelter in the world, has upgraded its Potline 5 from AP30 to AP36 technology, leading to increased productivity.

The upgrade was made possible with the successful installation of the first 1,600-millimeter-long anode in Potline 5. This breakthrough places Alba among the leaders in potline current through the application of advanced AP3x smelting technology.

The production process will receive a further boost through additional modifications from the reduction side on anode reference gauges, PTA shovel size, simulations on start-up pots, and studies on wench motors.

"Alba as a company has always prided itself on being at the forefront of promoting clean technology, reinforcing green initiatives in production, and ensuring that goals for reducing emissions and energy consumption are articulated with clear action plans," said Isa Al-Ansari, Alba's chief operations officer.

Alba is also starting a project feasibility study on a new Potline 6, which would add a further 400,000 tons of annual production capacity to the current 881,000 tons. If the project proceeds according to schedule, the new $2.5 billion line could be completed by early 2015. When Potline 5 was added in 2005, it took an investment of $1.7 billion.

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