Crown Prince visits Alba Line 6 project

Manama : His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister yesterday visited the headquarters of Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), during which Alba’s Line 6 project was reviewed.

The Line 6 expansion project will result in Alba becoming the world’s largest aluminium smelter producing 1.5 million metric tonnes of aluminium each year – a 52 percent expansion of current production levels.

During the visit HRH the Crown Prince inspected the Line 6 expansion project, which is on track to launch in January 2019. The First Deputy Prime Minister highlighted that Alba’s inception in 1971 marked the beginning of Bahrain’s strategy to diversify its economic base, and the company continues to make a substantial contribution to non-oil sector growth. 

Shaikh Salman reaffirmed that ongoing development projects worth over USD 32.5 billion are designed to benefit and provide opportunities for citizens, noting that the Line 6 expansion project is set to create 3200 jobs for Bahrainis.

Speaking on the occasion, the chairman of Alba’s Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, expressed his gratitude for HRH the Crown Prince’s visit. 

He highlighted that the Line 6 expansion project will further strengthen Alba’s role supporting sustainable economic growth and increasing the Kingdom’s regional and international competitiveness, noting that the Aluminium industry comprises 12 percent of the Kingdom’s GDP. 

He confirmed that Alba’s ongoing success is a direct result of the Kingdom’s development programme as well as the strength of the Kingdom’s skills base, noting that Bahrainis comprise 85 percent of Alba’s workforce.