Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) and compatriot firm Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) have signed an agreement to collaborate on various Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives going forward. It is the first such agreement of its kind between two such firms in the region.
Several officials from both companies were on hand for the signing earlier this week. The two firms intend to collaborate on several projects of mutual interest, beginning by conducting a feasibility study to determine if utilizing hydrogen from Bapco may be of use to Alba at present or in the near future.
Alba’s CEO Ali Al Baqali said in a press release that the agreement is important to reaching the kingdom’s overall sustainability goals.
“An alliance of this kind, between two of the largest companies in Bahrain, is a commitment to join our forces to embrace sustainable industrial development as we race to meet Bahrain’s Net Zero Emissions by 2060. It’s only united under the leadership of H.R.H. Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain that we will be able to make a difference, and address climate change by building resilient infrastructure for a greener and sustainable future. I also take the opportunity to extend my thanks to Alba’s Chairman of the Board Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa for leading the way we do things in Alba.”
Bapco’s CEO Dr. Abdulrahman Jawahery said the agreement will go far in helping his firm meet its goals as well.
“Bapco is honored and privileged to sign this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alba. This partnership translates our intention to address climate change challenges under the strategic guidance of H.H. Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, H.M. the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Works & Youth Affairs, Chairman of The Oil & Gas Holding Company as well as the wise directives of Chairman of Bapco’s Board of Directors H.E. Mr. Abdulla Jehad Al-Zain. This is one of the many initiatives we have in our pursuit to realise Bapco’s ESG objectives.”
Alba is one of the largest industrial companies in the Middle East and is the world’s biggest aluminium smelter outside the People’s Republic of China. Originally incorporated in 1968, the company is based in Bahrain and 84% of its total workforce are Bahraini nationals. It began operations in 1971 with a 120,000 metric ton annual capacity. Modernization bumped the output up to 450,000 metric tons in 1992. In the spring of 2005, Alba opened Line 5, raising output by 860,000 metric tons per year. In 2020 Alba’s smelter produced 1,548,500 metric tons of primary aluminium.