GARMCO breaks ground for re-melt extension

GARMCO, the Bahrain-based international aluminium rolling mill and one of the largest downstream aluminium facilities in the Middle East, broke ground yesterday on their re-melt extension, in attendance of Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, along with Minister of Foreign Trade France Matthias Fekl. 

The re-melt project, in collaboration with Fives, an industrial engineering group and supplier of machines, process equipment and production lines for the world’s largest industrial companies, is an EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) Turn-Key project, which will enable GARMCO to develop its metal recycling capability and lower the cost of metal casting.

Commenting on the occasion, CEO of GARMCO, Jean-Baptiste Lucas, said, “Today we have taken a step forward with the highly anticipated Re-melt Expansion project, which will become central to our entire operations. The project goes in line with our strategy to become a regional leader in aluminium recycling, as well as further build GARMCO’s capability to reach across global markets.”

Chief Representative from Fives Middle East, François Pahmer, said, “In the region, Fives had mostly been known as a technology partner for the smelters while our activities do span both the primary and the secondary aluminium production. It is a great opportunity to showcase our capabilities in this field, even more so that it happens in Bahrain, a strategic country for our aluminium business”.

The new project, once complete, will enable GARMCO to produce 120,000 tons of aluminium slabs, create about 50 new jobs, generate significant cost savings and further bolster GARMCO’s position as one of the most sizeable employers in the Kingdom.

The total cost of the project will reach up to $55 million and is part of a three year programme that aims to increase profitability and growth opportunities for the Company on a regional and international level.

Construction is set to begin in March 2016 with expected completion in November, 2017.