Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter ex-China, has signed Australia-based Regain as the technology partner for its spent pot lining (SPL) treatment plant.

The aluminium giant had in September announced the establishment of the first-of-its-kind SPL treatment plant in the GCC and Bahrain.

Expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2021, the SPL, being implemented in collaboration with Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), is a zero-waste process with a capacity to treat 30,000 to 35,000 tonnes of SPL a year then convert it to value- product.

According to Alba, the estimated budget for establishing the SPL treatment plant is close to $44 million.

The agreement was signed by Alba’s chairman of the Board of Directors Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa and Regain’s managing director Bernie Cooper in the presence of Strategic Consultant Frank Briganti as well as Alba’s top executives including chief operations officer Dr Abdulla Habib, chief admin and supply officer Waleed Tamimi, chief financial officer Bryan Harris and director (Safety, Health & Environment) Moh’d Khalil.

Commenting on the deal, Shaikh Daij said: “Alba’s SPL treatment plant is about ‘pioneering the future’. As the country’s leading industrial company, we aim to be fully aligned with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and are committed to advancing sustainable initiatives that will benefit the kingdom and our company.”

“We also believe in collaborating with companies that help us innovate and grow, and are truly pleased to have partnered with Regain for a sustainable and cost-effective solution for the treatment of SPL,” he stated.

A major player in proprietary technology sector, Regain not only provides process technology to transform SPL into valuable products but also a complete recycling solution to realise significant environmental and economic gains.

Since 2002, the Australian firm has treated more than 370,000 tonnes of SPL from smelters in Australia owned and operated by major aluminium producers.

Cooper said Alba had provided the vision and the scale of operation to enable a world-class SPL solution.

“The plant to be established in Bahrain will set new global benchmarks in terms of environmental sustainability and economics for transforming SPL into value-added products,” explained Cooper.

“Alba is to be congratulated on this initiative. Regain is pleased to be providing SPL technology and to be working with Alba to bring the vision of a world-class SPL solution to reality,” he added.