Iran targets Bahrain aluminium, 2 injured amid Hormuz closure
Most Gulf aluminium producers, which account for about 9 per cent of global supply, have been unable to ship due to Tehran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz
Aluminium Bahrain, which runs one of the world’s largest smelters, said on Sunday it was assessing the damage following Iranian strikes on the facility and another major aluminium producer in the United Arab Emirates.
Two employees at Aluminium Bahrain were hurt in Saturday’s attack, the state-controlled company said, while regional peer Emirates Global Aluminium’s site sustained significant damage from missile and drone strikes the same day.
Most Gulf aluminium producers, which account for about 9 per cent of global supply, have been unable to ship to world markets via their normal channels since the US-Israeli war on Iran began due to Tehran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
EGA is the Middle East’s largest producer of the metal and Alba operates the world’s largest single-site smelter.
Major regional producers targeted
The smelter attacks are part of a broader Iranian assault on the Gulf’s critical economic infrastructure, which has targeted oil refineries, commercial ports, airports and shipping lanes.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had targeted Alba and EGA’s Al Taweelah aluminium smelter in response to attacks on two Iranian steel plants, citing ties to US military and aeronautics firms.