“This increase in line current is part of an initiative to raise performance in line with the recent upgrade of Pot Line 5 from AP30 to AP 36 technology. The upgrade will enable Alba to boost output since each 1 kA increase is expected to yield 950 tonnes of extra aluminium production each year,” Alba in statement said.
This landmark accomplishment was achieved by an internal team comprising members from the Power, Carbon Operations and Maintenance, Process Control and Development, Reduction Operation and Maintenance departments.
“This would have seemed an impossible task but the team succeeded in achieving it without any significant capital investment. Using principles of lean management and operational efficiency along with active inter-departmental collaborations, the team was able to put in place systems that would help to gradually increase the line current and thereby boost production. Plans are also underway to achieve the same level of success in Pot Lines 3 and 4 as well as further raise Line 5’s current to 363 – 365 kA,” commenting on Alba’s internal team’s achievement in increasing the line current for Pot Line 5, Alba’s Chief Operations Officer, Isa Al Ansari said.
In 2011, Alba achieved the highest production in its forty-year history when it produced 881,000 metric tonnes of high-grade aluminium. With on-going initiatives to increase line current in other reduction lines, the company is expected to set new benchmarks and achieve gradual increase in production.