Alba sees sixth line complete by 2015

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), which owns the world's fourth-largest aluminum smelter, said on Friday its planned sixth production line could be completed by early 2015. Feasibility studies are currently under way, with banking feasibility studies seen ready by 2013, Laurent Schmitt, the company's chief executive officer said in a conference call.   "First metal would be available in early 2015," Schmitt said.   The line is expected to add 400,000 tons annual capacity to Alba's current production of 881,000 tons a year, he said.   The company saw its fourth-quarter net income drop 84 percent due to unrealized derivatives, a statement released earlier on Friday said. The firm reported a net income of $16 million during the fourth quarter, compared to $103 million a year earlier.    A one-time social cost of $16 million was incurred during the period due to reconciliation packages for employees terminated as a result of the unrest that rocked Bahrain in early 2011.   "We are offering packages according to the number of years worked so they range from around one to two years of pay," said Tim Murray, the company's chief financial officer.   Unrest still looms large in Bahrain which was rocked by months of anti-government protests in early 2011. Murray said it was still unclear whether Bahrain would again significantly raise gas prices it sells to Alba.   The country's state-run energy supplier had raised the prices of gas it sells to Alba starting Jan. 1 by $0.75 per million British thermal units (mmbtu) to $2.25/mmbtu.     The move is expected to increase Alba's costs significantly but still offers the plant cheaper fuel than most of its competitors outside the region.   "We still have no clarity on what it will be," Murray said when asked if he expected prices to further jump within the near future.   The company and local authorities are discussing a long-term contract to secure availability and price of gas beyond 2012, said the statement.