- LONDON: Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA) is not having problems getting raw materials from ports and its smelter is operating normally, it said despite weeks of unrest and a government crackdown on protests.
Market talk had suggested the company was having difficulties getting raw materials to the facility, which is one of the world’s biggest aluminum smelters, producing around 860,000 tons of metal annually.
“Alba have experienced no issues in getting raw material through ports in Bahrain,” the company said in an e-mailed answer to questions.
Bahrain has seen the worst unrest since the 1990s after protesters took to the streets in February.
Alba said production and sales had risen so far this year.
Sales volumes in the first quarter increased to 217,000 tons, up from 201,000 tons in the same period last year. Output rose to 217,000 compared with 210,000 a year earlier.
“The higher overall sales were as a result of higher production based upon productivity improvements implemented by the company,” Alba said.