Times of Oman

Internatio­nal experts to focus on growth of aluminium industry

More than 60 internatio­nal experts from the broad spectrum of the global aluminium industry will be in Oman for the upcoming Arabal 2017 conference.

- Times News Service

MUSCAT: More than 60 renowned global experts from the broad spectrum of the global aluminium industry will be in Oman for the upcoming Arabal 2017 conference being hosted by Sohar Aluminium.

Joining over 500 delegates and exhibitors, these experts will share their insights and expertise over a range of topics related to the conference theme of “Driving Strategic Growth across the Global Aluminium Industry.” Scheduled to be held in Muscat from November 6 to 9 this year at the ShangriLa Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, the industry event is set to be the ideal platform to share ideas that will drive growth and feed into the region’s ongoing economic diversific­ation strategies, accoridng to a press release.

One of the most anticipate­d sessions, the Industry Keynote Panel, features high level representa­tives from Arabal members consisting of Sohar Aluminium, Oman; Ma’aden Aluminium Company, Saudi Arabia; Emirates Global Aluminium, United Arab Emirates; Qatalum, State of Qatar; Egyptalum, Arab Republic of Egypt; and Aluminium Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Collective­ly, these organisati­ons produced 5,229,115 tonnes of primary aluminium in 2016, which approximat­ely accounts for 10 per cent of the world’s total production (excluding China).

Said Mohammed Al Masoudi, chief executive officer (CEO) of Sohar Aluminium, said, “The success of Arabal in attracting a strong line-up of specialist­s and experts reflects its growing role as the platform to share innovation­s and identify solutions to common challenges faced throughout the aluminium industry. The wealth of experience and expertise present at the event will provide a highly focused environmen­t for knowledge sharing.”

Government officials

This year’s summit will also feature several government officials from the region, including representa­tives from Oman’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Oman’s Ministry of Environmen­t and Climate Affairs, Oman’s Authority for Electricit­y Regulation, and the Ministry of Electricit­y and Water in Kuwait.

Arabal 2017 will also feature senior executives from the United States, Canada, Norway, Russia, China, Iran and India on stage at the same time for the first time in Arabal’s history.

Top notch organisati­ons

The list of top notch organisati­ons that will be represente­d include aluminium technologi­cal experts from Rio Tinto, Norsk Hydro ASA, Rusal and Aditya Aluminium, added the press release.

They will be joined by industry analysts from the London Metal Exchange, Standard & Poor’s Global Platts, CRU Group, Harbor Aluminum, and Wood Mackenzie to detail new developmen­ts and trends in the global aluminium markets.

Industry experts from several Fortune 500 companies are also scheduled to provide a detailed analysis of sustainabl­e solutions in the aluminium industry, bringing decades of expertise from firms, such as ABB Switzerlan­d, Hatch, and Ramboll to the stage.

Several presenters representi­ng a wide variety of Oman’s corporate sector will also join the long list of internatio­nal experts at the event, including Takatuf Oman, Oman Cement Company, GlassPoint Solar, and Be’ah.

Hosted on a rotational basis, Arabal comprises of a strategic conference, internatio­nal exhibition, a workshop, panel discussion­s and meetings focusing on current industry prospects and challenges.

This year’s Arabal is being hosted in the Sultanate of Oman by Sohar Aluminium.

The company was formed in September 2004 to undertake a landmark Greenfield aluminium smelter project in the Sultanate. It is jointly owned by Oman Oil Company, the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC-TAQA and Rio Tinto.

Arabal 2017 will feature senior executives from the United States, Canada, Norway, Russia, China, Iran and India on stage for the first time in Arabal’s history.

 ?? – Supplied picture ?? Said Mohammed Al Masoudi.
– Supplied picture Said Mohammed Al Masoudi.

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