Energy cost reduction can boost aluminium sector: Qatalum

The GCC region’s aluminium industry can make significant gains if production costs can be reduced by containing energy expense, Qatalum says.

This will help the industry maintain the highest quality standards in production, meet the requirements of improved competitiveness and enter new markets, it said.

The aluminium industry requires intensive investment and high technical and technological levels, Qatalum said. The industry can never be separated from modern technology for all phases of manufacturing and production, as the acquisition and constant update of high-tech methods of production are key to the possession of advanced production capacity and better ability to produce high quality products that are highly competitive in overseas markets.

These concerns are the basis of the plans being developed. The presence and acquisition of increasing market share will be the goal of all producing and manufacturing companies in the foreseeable future.

Qatalum said: “The aluminium industry in the GCC countries are depending on transfer of advanced technology to reach targeted production capacity in the shortest possible time, meet the local and regional demand, and enter international markets.

“Aluminium companies and smelters are adopting expansion policies in their production lines in line with the extensive urban expansion that is currently taking place in the region.

“This requires the adaptation of numerous new technologies to help achieve their production and expansion targets, especially in view of the soaring competition in terms of quality and prices from the traditional industrial powers.”

The managements of the aluminium companies and smelters in the region and the world are seeking to build permanent partnerships and co-operative relationships, and their attention, has in recent years, been devoted to developing and implementing the “most innovative and advanced cost effective and energy efficient technologies”.

These technologies are evidence of the “high level of efficiency, reliability and environmental friendliness” of these smelters in all phases of production. These elements have become the cornerstone of competitiveness in international markets.

The goals of technology manufacturers meet the objectives of aluminium producers as both are working together to achieve a number of goals, foremost of which is to improve actual production capacity, reduce emissions and reach cost effective and energy efficient solutions to ensure constant and non-stop operations.

The success in developing the region’s aluminium industry is dependent on the ability to continue government support to maintain the competitive advantage in terms of cost, and to develop long term financing instruments that fund the expected output expansion and development plans.

These must be taken into consideration if aluminium industry officials want to maintain the current achievements and increase gains.

Qatalum, which is the organiser of the Arab International Aluminium Conference (Arabal 2012), in Doha from November 20 to 22, also said the aluminium industry in the GCC region is increasingly attracting high levels of official interest, as well as acquiring a large portion of the region’s industrial expansion plans and dominating a large part of the investment that is being injected to achieve economic diversification.

Among other sessions Arabal 2012 will include a panel discussion on aluminium industry technology, in view of the importance of this issue.