Aluminium

Alba inks MoU with Chinese producer

Alba and HJJ announcing the sigining of the MoU in a virtual meeting

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter ex-China, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese aluminium firm Hangzhou Jinjiang Group Company (HJJ) for securing Alba’s alumina requirements.

The MoU, signed at a virtual signing ceremony, serves as a framework to form a strategic potential collaboration between both entities in terms of securing Alba’s alumina requirements.

Alba’s Chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa said this deal translates Alba’s strategy to have a vertically integrated business model as well as partially hedge against Alumina price volatility and supply constraints.

“We are also excited to explore more avenues for collaboration with HJJ which will further consolidate Alba’s status as one of the world’s leading aluminium producers,” he stated.

HJJ is a leading alumina producer with an annual nameplate capacity of 10 million tonnes in China.

The MoU will remain in effect for a period of three years and can be extended based upon mutual agreement amongst both parties.

Wang Yuanluo said the MoU represents an important step for both Alba and HJJ as they commence a long and mutually beneficial relationship.

“As a leading alumina producer, we are committed to our international expansion plans, building and operating alumina refineries in strategic locations, to provide high quality products at competitive terms to our valuable customers,” she added.

The virtual signing ceremony was attended by Alba’s Chairman  Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa, the Owner of HJJ Dou Zhenggang and Chairman Madam Wang Yuanluo in the presence of Alba CEO Ali Al Baqali and other top officials. 

 

Line 6 project winsAward

Meanwhile, Alba’s Line 6 expansion project has been named the `GCC industrial project of the year’ in the 2020 edition of the MEED Projects Awards.

The project has also been elected as the national winner for both `Industrial project of the year’ and Mega project of the year’ Awards.

Following a rigorous judging process based on a range of criteria including innovation, sustainability, design, and engineering among others, Alba’s Line 6 Expansion project was a top contender for this Award standing-out amongst other cutting-edge projects in the GCC, a statement said.

The MEED Projects Awards recognise the best projects in the GCC across various sectors and promotes best practices in project delivery and operations, as well as innovation and sustainability.

Commenting on these awards, Shaikh Daij stated: “We are pleased that Alba Line 6 expansion project has been the recipient of MEED Industrial Project of 2020 at the GCC level - this truly recognises Alba’s strategic importance as one of the industrial cornerstones of Bahrain as well as its commitment to the Kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030.

Adding further, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali said: “Alba will be closing 2020 as the world’s largest smelter w/o China thanks to Line 6 expansion project. This Landmark Project is a pledge of value creation for all our stakeholders and Bahrain’s society for the generations to come.”

With a Capex of $3 billion, Alba Line 6 is one of the largest brownfield projects in the region.