A top delegation from Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has witnessed first-hand at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) the JAC Advanced Gas Turbine (GT) ready to be shipped to Bahrain for Alba’s Power Station 5 (PS5) Block 4 Project.

 

Alba’s PS5 Block 4 Expansion Project is the addition of a fourth Block of similar 1:1:1 configuration with 680.9 megawatts (MW) M701JAC Gas Turbine Combined Cycle, the first of its kind manufactured for a primary aluminium smelter, and includes integration into the existing 220kV Substation. 

 

Once operational in Q4 2024, Block 4 will increase the nameplate capacity of PS5 Complex from 1,800 MW to 2,481 MW and reduce its overall GHG emissions intensity ratio by 0.5x, thus supporting the company in its race to decarbonisation.

 

Sustainable technologies

The Alba delegation led by its Chairman of the Board Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa also discussed matters of mutual interest including potential areas of collaboration such as sustainable technologies that are currently part of MHI’s portfolios and its power solutions brand, Mitsubishi Power.

Shaikh Daij said: “We are pleased with the on-schedule progress of the $265 million PS5 Block 4 Expansion Project, which once completed in Q4 2024, will be a turnaround in Alba’s ESG journey as it will reduce our overall GHG emissions, thus setting the benchmark in terms of sustainable and efficient power generation in the aluminium industry.

 

“We are also proud to have achieved a Safety record of 712,790 safe-working hours without Lost Time Injury to date (as of July 2) on this Project.” 

 

 

The Alba delegation also comprising the Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali and Chief Power Officer Amin Sultan took a field-tour of MHI’s Takasago Machinery Works and Hydrogen Park, in Hyogo Prefecture Japan.

 

They met Toshiyuki Hashi, Executive Vice President, President and CEO, Energy Systems, Takashi Tozawa, Senior Fellow, Senior General Manager, GTCC Business Division of Energy Systems, and other GTCC business executives.

 

Latest advancements

Hashi said: "We are very honoured to welcome the distinguished senior Alba delegation to our headquarters in Tokyo and to our Takasago Machinery Works and Hydrogen Park site. As leaders in clean and hydrogen-ready power generation technology, MHI is proud to provide our latest advancements to support Alba's goals of ensuring a reliable and efficient power supply, while continuously enhancing its operational excellence and productivity. 

 

“Together, we are driving the industry forward to a decarbonised future with clean energy solutions that not only reduce environmental impact but also pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous tomorrow. This visit further strengthens our partnership and reinforces our commitment to support our industrial partners accelerate their energy transition, particularly in the hard-to-abate sectors.” 

 

MHI’s Takasago Machinery Works is a one-of-a-kind facility for the manufacturing of Mitsubishi Power’s cutting-edge gas turbines. To ensure the reliability and performance of advanced class gas turbines, they undergo rigorous, long-term testing and verification under the same conditions as that of an actual power plant at Mitsubishi Power’s ultramodern, grid-connected T-Point 2 facility. The co-located Takasago Hydrogen Park is the world’s first centre for the validation of hydrogen-related technologies, from hydrogen production to power generation.-- TradeArabia News Service