Bahrain’s Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company (Garmco) has said that it is to start discussions with other regional aluminium smelters about diversifying its supply away from Aluminium Bahrain (Alba).

Garmco’s chief executive, Adel Hamad, tells MEED that the decision to look for other suppliers stems from the fact that many other aluminium smelters have started operations in the region.

There are many [aluminium] smelters in the region now, in Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Oman

Adel Hamad, Garmco

“There are many [aluminium] smelters in the region now, in Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Oman for example,” Hamad says. “We have a contract with Alba that is due to run for the next three years so it will be something we are looking at introducing in 2013.”

“I must stress that talks with other smelters in the region have not yet started,” he adds.     

Hamad also says that the decision on who will carry out the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract at its $350m aluminium rolling mill at Sohar in Oman is close, but not finalised yet.  

“We are in the final stages and depending on when the board make its decision depends on whether we announce before or after Ramadan,” Hamad says.  

When completed the rolling mill will boast a total capacity of 200,000 tonnes-a-year of aluminium general coil, foil and paint stock products and is a joint venture between Garmco, Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority and Takamul, the investment arm of the state-owned Oman Oil Company (OOC).