Bahrain's Alba says production up 2% in Q1

Aluminium Bahrain's output rose 2 percent in the first quarter of 2012, while sales were steady despite sluggish growth in Europe slowdown, Alba said on Sunday.

Production at one of the world's largest aluminum smelters was 220,738 tonnes in the first quarter of 2012, compared to 216,792 tonnes in the same period a year ago. Sales were unchanged at 135,104 tonnes, Alba said in a statement.

Bahrain's state-run energy supplier raised Alba's gas supply costs by $0.75 per million British thermal units (mmbtu) to $2.25/mmbtu on January 1, but Alba still enjoys cheaper fuel than many of its competitors.

The company plans to increase its production capacity from 881,000 tonnes to 1.28 million tonnes a year with the addition of a new production line in 2015.