Aluminum Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the largest aluminum smelters in the world, has passed the seventh consecutive year without recording any heat-related illness or injury, which represents a significant achievement in the aluminum industry.

Commenting on this achievement, Alba’s CEO, Ali Al Baqali, said:

“Ensuring the safety of our employees and contractor workers working for the company is not a temporary goal but an ongoing process. By building a culture in which safety is everyone’s responsibility, we can create a work environment that contributes to preventing accidents.

Our record of being free of any heat-related injuries or illnesses for the seventh year in a row, especially with the extreme heat we witnessed during the summer of 2023, confirms our firm commitment to the safety and health of our workforce.”

It is noteworthy that Alba’s efforts to maintain the safety of its employees and contractor workers during the challenging summer season include conducting surveys on dehydration rates among employees and workers, sessions and workshops to raise awareness of the dangers of high heat, and distributing special cooling fabrics to help regulate the body temperature of workers in sites with high temperatures. High temperatures, in addition to company-wide summer safety campaigns and other mini-campaigns throughout the year.

Furthermore, during the summer months, Alba sends WBGT readings four times a day via the company’s various digital communication channels such as emails, displays, and WhatsApp.

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About Aluminum Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)

[Trading symbol: ALBH]

Alba is one of the largest aluminum smelters in the world with production exceeding 1.6 million metric tons per year (2022), and the company prides itself on a track record of excellence spanning more than 50 years in all aspects of operations, safety, environment and social and economic development.

Alba is considered one of the largest companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The company manufactures high-quality aluminum products, in the form of standard and value-added products, and exports them to more than 240 customers around the world through its sales offices in Europe (Zurich) and Asia (Hong Kong and Singapore). And its subsidiary in the United States of America. Alba is also listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, and its shareholders are Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company B.S.C. (Closed) (69.38%), SABIC Industrial Investments Company (20.62%), and the general public (10%). Alba is also proud to have obtained prestigious international certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 45001, IATF 16949:2016 certification for the quality management system for the automotive industry, and ISO 22301:2012 for the business continuity management system, in addition to obtaining the standard certification. Performance from the Aluminum Sustainability Initiative (ASI), and Ecovadis certification.

As the first aluminum smelter in the Middle East, Alba is the heartbeat of Bahrain's thriving aluminum sector, which represents approximately 12% of the Kingdom's GDP. As one of the largest national companies, Alba is keen to employ Bahraini talent (the Bahraini rate is 85% in 2022), and even goes beyond that by ensuring that their competencies and skills are enhanced through various educational, training and development initiatives during all stages of their career with the company.

Alba is one of the world's leading industrial companies, adhering to the highest standards in environmental practices, social responsibility and corporate governance. The environmental, social and governance roadmap launched by the company in February 2022 focuses on 6 strategic priorities: 1) decarbonisation, 2) clean energy and green aluminum, 3) circular economy and the aluminum downstream industry, 4) enhancing employee well-being, 5) collaboration and partnerships. 6) Transparency, communication and fulfillment of requirements. Since its establishment, Alba has invested in many development projects in terms of the environment, sustainability, and social and economic aspects, which have had a significant positive impact on society. The first-of-its-kind waste-free smelting cell liner processing plant, which costs $37.5 million, as well as the upcoming solar park project to generate between 5 and 7 megawatts of clean energy, in addition to the fourth energy complex project at the fifth power station, represent some of the company’s efforts. Concrete efforts to achieve the goals of zero carbon neutrality by 2060, under the leadership of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect him. Moreover, Alba is scheduled to play its strategic role in the aluminum downstream industries area, which will enhance the contribution of non-oil sectors to the Kingdom of Bahrain’s gross domestic product.

Alba's constant slogan, “Safety First...Safety Always,” emphasizes that the safety and health of employees and contractor workers is its top priority. The company was able to break all previous safety records, exceeding 30 million safe working hours without any lost-time injury on September 1, 2022, for the first time in its history. The company has a proven track record at the international level in the fields of safety and health, having received many prestigious awards such as the Gold Medal Award from the Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents (RoSPA) (for the ninth year in a row) and the International Safety Award with Merit from the British Safety Council, as well as the Six major awards from the US National Safety Council for 2021. Alba was also recognized for its initiatives in responsible aluminum production by receiving the Best ESG Company in Bahrain award from ESG Invest, SafeGuard certification from Bureau Veritas, as well as the Best Foundation in Corporate Governance from Ethical Boardroom.

Fourth energy complex project at power station 5

The company's fourth energy complex project at Power Station 5 aims to expand this station, which generates energy through combined cycle technology.

This additional complex is identical to the other complexes in the plant (1:1:1) with Class J gas turbine technology and a minimum nominal ISO rating of 680.9 MW, as the project includes a connection to the existing 220 kV substation. The combined cycle power plant has a much higher efficiency than the company's combined cycle power plants 3 and 4. Upon completion of the fourth energy complex expansion project in Power Station 5, the total production capacity of Power Station 5 will increase from 1,800 megawatts to 2,481 megawatts.

Mitsubishi Power Group and SEPCO 3 will be responsible for the design, engineering, procurement, construction and operation of the fourth energy complex at Power Station 5, which is expected to begin commercial operations during the fourth quarter of 2024.

Alba’s stakeholder/interested party engagement plan

Alba’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan summarizes the company’s communication with all stakeholders, including the Bahraini community, the environmental and social impact, as well as the controls in place to limit the impact of its operational operations, in addition to Alba’s external grievance mechanism provided through the “Business Conduct Manual”. This plan allows any Stakeholders or any member of the general public express their concerns about any matter related to the company.

© Press Release 2023