His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has deputised Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa to attend the official opening of the Arab International Aluminum Conference (Arabal 2014), hosted by the kingdom for the three days.
Shaikh Khalid extended sincere thanks and appreciation to HRH Premier for granting him the honour to attend the opening ceremony of the Arabal 2014, noting that HRH the Prime Minister is the first support of the aluminum industry.
He credited HRH Premier for bringing the aluminum industry to the region and encouraging the establishment of the first factory in Bahrain since the late 1960s, adding that the Premier's interest in the industry has continued with his initiative to the kingdom's hosting of a periodic conference –Arabal, that brings together aluminum experts.
He stressed that the kingdom's hosting of Arabal for the fourth time in a row proves, anew, the kingdom's distinguished and advanced status in the aluminum industry, highlighting Bahrain's leading role in the industry thanks to Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the largest industrial companies in the Middle East and one of the largest aluminium producers in the world.
He affirmed the kingdom's leadership's constant interest in developing the aluminium industry, which, he said, has enabled Alba to compete at the global level and meet the increasing demand on its products, citing the approval of the cabinet, chaired by HRH the Prime Minister, of the recommendation of the Executive Committee, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and the First Deputy Premier, on providing the natural gas supply for Alba’s Line 6 expansion project.
The 2.5 m USD Line 6 project will add 400,000 tonnes to the smelter's current 915,000-tonne capacity, and bring its overall production to 1,3 million tonnes, he said, noting that the project will provide additional revenues for the national economy and generate new job opportunities for the trained national work force.
The Deputy Premier wished the participants every success in coming up with recommendations that will reflect positively on the aluminum industry in the world.
He told the.Bahrain News Agency (BNA), that with Arabal, Alba is looking to establishing cooperation with like-minded companies.
"It is important to join hands with others, know what we need and get the information and technology from others,so that we progress," he told the BNA about Arabal.
The Deputy Prime Minister visited the exhibition, organised alongside the aluminium conference and inaugurated it.
He was accompanied by Alba Chairman, Shaikh Duaij Abdulla who spoke on Alba's production.
"The conference is more about what we are doing in collaboration and the growth of the industry," said Tim Murray, CEO of Alba. The 18th edition will run till November 27.
The Chairman of Alba, Shaikh Duaij Salam Al Khalifa, in his opening address, said he appreciated the hosting of Arabal. He said the conference was also about promoting investment in the field, in addition to smelter technology.
He told the BNA, the Bahrain edition has over 600 participants, a huge jump over 200 to 300 participants generally seen at such conferences. The conference is held under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
"The conference is more about what we are doing in collaboration and the growth of the industry," said Tim Murray, CEO of Alba. The 18th edition will run till November 27.
He told BNA that the Bahrain edition has over 600 participants, a huge jump over 200 to 300 participants generally seen at such conferences. The conference is held under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
Each year Arabal is rotated among the shelters of the region. Looking at the industry, the Gulf produces five million tonnes of the commodity, thus becoming the major producer outside of China, said the CEO. It will see producers, equipment manufacturers and all others participate, said Murray.
Among the exhibitors are London Metal Exchange, Qatalum, Minimax fire fighting solutions, Bahrain Aluminium Extrusion Company, Emirates Global Aluminium, shipping company Bahri, advancetex International, FLSmidth, fives turnkey contractors, Asea Brown Boveri, Rio Tinto Alcan, Alstom and Garmco.
The sponsors are Ma'aden, EGA, Qatalum, Sohar Aluminium, Alupco, Garmco. Gulf Extrusions, Midal, and others.