Work on Aluminium Bahrain's (Alba) $400 million coke calcining and sea water desalination project at its marine terminal is reported to be progressing well with foundations for several key areas now under construction.

Foundations have already been laid for the new administration building; the calcined coke silos; the waste heat boilers; the dust filtration units; the coke cooler area; the main stacks; and the retaining walls for the green coke storage building.

One of the two 50,000 tonnes alumina silos is already up to the required 62 m in height and the second silo was scheduled to be slipformed by the end of March.

The new jetty and access road has now been completed and released to the material handling contractor for the construction of the ship-loader/unloader and conveying systems.

This will enable ships of more than 60,000 tonnes to unload the raw materials.

The support piers for the kilns and incinerators are also being constructed, and the two coke coolers are now on site along with the six kiln sections which are also scheduled to be lifted into place this month.