Alba has a long history of responsible and sustainable business practices. As one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters, we recognize our environmental and social impact. Our commitment extends beyond operations; we take a proactive approach to addressing these challenges through our well-defined Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) Roadmap.
Launched in April 2022, the ESG Roadmap reinforces Alba’s alignment with Bahrain’s goal of achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2060, championed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain. It also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This comprehensive roadmap outlines six strategic priorities to guide Alba on its path toward a sustainable future. These priorities comprise: (1) Decarbonisation, (2) Green Energy & Aluminium, (3) Circular Economy & Secondary Aluminium, (4) Employee Welfare, (5) Collaboration & Partnership and (6) Transparency, Communications & Due Diligence.
(1) Decarbonisation
Alba is adding a fourth Block to Alba’s Power Station 5 (PS5) that will increase the nameplate capacity of PS5 from 1,800 MW to 2,481 MW and reduce its overall GHG emissions intensity ratio by 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per 1 tonne of aluminium produced.
Currently under construction, adding a fourth Block to Alba’s Power Station 5 will enable the Company to use a mix of Hydrogen and Natural Gas to reduce its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and set a benchmark in sustainable power generation. The efficiency of Block 4 combined cycle power plant will be much higher than the combined cycle power plants of Power Stations 3 & 4.
In support of Bahrain’s ambitious goal of doubling its tree cover by 2035, Alba has actively undertaken tree-planting initiatives throughout the country. Since 2021, the company has planted over 21,000 trees across various locations and in collaboration with different organizations in Bahrain. Demonstrating a long-term commitment, Alba has pledged to plant 6,000 trees annually, both inside and outside its premises.
(2) Green Energy & Aluminium
With an aim to diversify our energy sources and adopt clean energy, Alba is developing a Solar Farm that consists of around 11,300 solar PV panels with a capacity of more than 6 Megawatts,
in collaboration with Bahrain’s Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA). The Solar Farm will spread across the Company’s operational areas, car parks and Alba Club. Approximately 7,591,760 kilograms of carbon emissions would be reduced per year — corresponding to a total reduction of 189,794,000 kilograms of carbon emissions over 25-year span.
Further demonstrating its dedication to reducing its environmental footprint, Alba has implemented a pioneering solar energy initiative. The company has launched three new industrial personnel carriers powered by solar electricity. These electric vehicles contribute to daily fuel savings of 9.9 liters each. Additionally, Alba installed three solar charging stations to cater to its electric vehicles, including the new personnel carriers. These stations are expected to generate significant environmental benefits. They are projected to save an estimated 110,000 kWh per year, resulting in a reduction of 42 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The charging stations boast a unique feature: battery storage systems. This allows for charging during off-peak hours and even the return of excess energy to Alba’s power grid, maximizing the utilization of clean solar power.
Plans are also underway to improve the efficiency of energy consumption across the Company’s facilities to enhance Alba’s contributions towards the government sector’s efforts to support the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) and the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP).
(3) Circular Economy & Secondary Aluminium
Alba has set the benchmark in sustainability with the establishment of the US$37.5 million Spent Pot Lining (SPL) Treatment Plant, which commenced its operations in December 2021. This Plant, with an annual capacity of 35,000
tonnes, is the first-of-its-kind in the Region, which transforms SPL material through a zero-waste process into value-added products to be used in other industries such as cement. The SPL Treatment plant is a tangible example of integrating Waste Management and Recycling in our operational spectrum to create sustainable value in a circular economy.
Alba Mangrove Nursery
Another important project that was actioned was the Food Waster Composter, which has a capacity to treat 125 Kg per day of organic waste e.g. grass clippings and food waste collected from Company’s canteens. The composter produces nutrients-rich compost within 24 hours, which helps to helps improve the soil fertility of the green areas in Alba.
(4) Employee Welfare
Our People, Our Strength: Alba recognizes its workforce as the cornerstone of its vision. With immense pride, we boast one of the largest national workforces in Bahrain, employing 3,150 people across our operations. Notably, 86% of our workforce are
Bahraini nationals, reflecting our commitment to supporting and developing Bahrain’s human capital.
Investing in Our People’s Growth: Alba’s success over the past 52 years is fundamentally linked to its unwavering commitment to training and development. The Company offers a variety of programs designed for all staff levels, empowering them with the skills and
(5) Collaboration & Partnerships
As a responsible corporate citizen, we want to create value not only for our shareholders, but also for all our stakeholders and the wider community. We achieve this through collaborative partnerships across the public and private sectors.
We are proud to be at the forefront of sustainability initiatives, working with leading organizations on groundbreaking projects. These include a pilot project on carbon capture with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA, exploring the use of surplus hydrogen for future energy needs with Bahrain Petroleum Company, and collaborating with the Ministry of Oil and Environment on mangrove conservation. These are just a few examples of our commitment to a sustainable future.
knowledge necessary to excel in their roles and contribute to Alba’s continued success. By fostering a culture of learning and growth, we ensure we have a skilled and future-proof workforce that can propel Alba towards achieving its vision and aligning with the goals of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
(6) Transparency, Communications &
Due Diligence
At Alba, we understand that transparency and accountability are crucial for long-term success. That’s why we’ve been a leader in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting since 2016, being one of the first companies in the Middle East to publish annual Sustainability Reports.
These reports detail our ESG performance and best practices in Corporate Governance. Our commitment to transparency allows our stakeholders to see what truly matters to Alba.
Inauguration of solar-powered personnel carriers and charging stations
To cement Alba’s commitment to environmental responsibility, two new task forces were established within Alba:
Alba’s commitment to Sustainability was recognised, for the third year in a row, as the top Company in Bahrain on the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings list by ESG Invest – the investment research arm of ‘Sustainability Excellence’, which provides comprehensive ratings that quantify ESG performance of companies in the Arab World.
Alba: Leading the Charge in Sustainable Industrial Practices
As we embark on a transformative journey in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, we remain committed to the highest standards in environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical corporate governance.
Our vision extends far beyond the aluminium we produce or the manufacturing processes we employ. Leveraging our position as the world’s largest smelter outside of China, Alba is driven by the ambition to deliver lasting value to all our stakeholders. This includes our dedicated workforce, the communities we serve, our valued customers, and, most importantly, the Kingdom of Bahrain.
