wiredinUSA April 2013

Alba joins Aluminum Extruders Council

Grid crisis looms for Israel

Haaretz is reporting that the Israel Electric Corporation has cut investment in transmission by 50 percent in recent years, even though its own power generation capacity has increased by 15 percent in five years, and privately-owned power stations and renewable energy are gaining ground. The volume of 161kW lines has increased by only five percent, and no 400kV lines have been built. Aging high-voltage power lines need upgrading and the country experiences unreliable supply and frequent breakdowns. As a result, the Israel Corporation was denied permission to build another power plant at Mishor Rotem, next to its new OPC plant. A 17km, 161kW high-voltage line was specially erected by the electric company, but a second plant would require a 400kW line and cost hundreds of million of shekels. A 400kW line currently stretches to Ramat Hovev, where it splits into two 161kW lines. It will carry power generated by the planned 250MW solar energy station at Ashalim.

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), one of the largest aluminum smelters in the world, has become a member of Aluminum Extruders Council, an international association for extrusion companies and suppliers in the US. Alba's membership into this community of over 100 major North American extrusion companies will enable it to join in with the exchange of technical and commercial information, as well as contribute knowledge and expertise in the production of high quality value added aluminum, a company statement said. Alba is a major producer of aluminum ingots and slabs, and supplies liquid metal to companies including Midal Cables, Bahrain Bahrain Alloys Manufacturing Company (BAMCO), and Bahrain Welding Wire Products Mfg Co (BWP) for production of primary aluminum alloys and master alloys. Primary aluminium-based EC rod, alloy rod, and wire and alloy ingot are produced from liquid metal. Other applications include aluminum wires for electrical and mechanical use, curved line conductors, aluminum clad steel (ACS) wires for transmission lines, and solid conductors.

wiredInUSA - April 2013

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