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Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has confirmed that its smelting facility was struck in an Iranian attack on 28 March 2026, leaving two employees with minor injuries.

The company stated that it is currently assessing the extent of the damage while prioritising employee safety and operational stability.

The facility was the first aluminium smelter to start operations in the Middle East. It began commercial operations in 1971 and uses electricity from three power stations, which are mainly run on gas from nearby upstream assets.

The attack on Alba was part of a broader wave of strikes that also targeted Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) in the UAE.

Iran has targeted regional metal processing facilities after Tehran accused Israel of attacking two steel production sites.

Even before the attack, Alba had initiated a partial shutdown of its smelting lines, representing about 19% of its capacity, due to issues related to the ongoing regional conflict.

In 2025, the company’s total production capacity stood at approximately 1.62 million tonnes.

MEED reported in November last year that Alba was preparing to commence the bankable feasibility study for a project to replace lines 1, 2 and 3.

The planned project involves replacing Alba’s oldest production facilities with modern, highly efficient technology, designed to significantly increase output without requiring a larger gas allocation. The project is technically challenging. It is understood that it would be the first time that an aluminium producer has shut down lines and replaced them on the same site.

The replacement project represents a significant capacity upgrade. Lines 1, 2 and 3 currently have a combined capacity of 300,000 metric tonnes a year (t/y). The new facilities are planned to boost this total to 400,000 t/y.

The increase in production will be achieved while using the same amount of gas as the existing, outdated lines. This efficiency gain is a major driver for the project, enabling Alba to boost output within its current gas allocation limits.