Speed, Agility and Simplicity (SAS) Recovery of Reduction Line-5 in Alba

Abstract

Reduction Line 5 in Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA) was started up in 2005 with a capacity of 305kt per year. The operating performance of Line-5 has been one of the best among all AP 30 reduction lines. It has been operating at 386 kA with different lining design as part of upgrading the line to operate close to 400 kA. On 5th April 2017, all Alba reduction lines encountered a long power outage due to a power blackout. After this outage, another three hours of power shutdown was required to weld emergency busbars after an open circuit incident in one of the Line 5 pots caused by anode clad failure. These unforeseen events caused the potline to freeze and 274 pots had to be stopped out of the 336 pots that were in operation. Alba has demonstrated extensive resilience and in-depth technical know-how in recovering these pots in one of the fastest and safest recovery in the aluminium smelting industry. This paper describes the steps and procedures put in place to achieve such a milestone.