GCC, power plants, technology and the Arab Spring dominate first day of ARABAL 2012

The first full day of the Arab Aluminium Conference – ARABAL 2012 – has kicked off in Doha, with regional issues, power generation and technology dominating the agenda.

Mr. Al Shaibi, Chairman of ARABAL 2012 Organising Host Qatalum, took the audience through the steps that the company has taken in Qatar and the achievements realized in the aluminium industry and industrial sector. However, he sounded a word of caution:

“We do not expect low prices to last; unlike many other metals, growth in aluminium demand is positive and we expect it to continue”. Mr. Al Shaibi expects prices to follow bullish forecasts in demand.

He expressed gratitude to the Qatari government. The industrial sector in Qatar is moving on the right track, he noted. “It is truly an international industry, due to the interdependence between production and raw material hubs, the smelting and refining centres and the manufacturing industries”, he added.

Dr. Al Sada, through Mr. Al Shaibi, praised ARABAL as an “extraordinary opportunity for gauging the pulse of the industry and its developments across the globe”. Worldwide, he argued, aluminium industry is in a state of restructuring. Economic downslide in Europe coupled with escalating power tariffs, lack of local resources, taxation and tightening of ecological regulations have already resulted in the shutdown number of European aluminium production facilities.

Mr. Svein Richard of Hydro Aluminium – whose joint venture with Qatar Petroleum spawned Qatalum – gave a comprehensive presentation, outlining Qatalum’s strategic position in the global supply chain, and spoke of ‘infinite aluminium’ through strong increase in demand and recycling innovations.

Mr Al Naqi, Chairman of the ARABAL Organising Committee, was pleased to announce the number of participants in this conference at almost 500: a record number. He outlined how things have changed since the first conference in 1983. “Today, as we celebrate the sixteenth version of ARABAL 2012 in Doha, the region has seven smelters of primary aluminium with production capacity of up to 15% of global production” he said. Saudi producer Ma’aden’s Vice President also announced that it will inaugurate its first aluminium smelter on 12th December this year, capping off a big year for GCC aluminium.

The day continued with an extremely senior panel discussion - with no fewer than five CEOs sitting on it - on the “Future Prospects of Aluminium Industry in the GCC”. Another panel followed, covering “The Future Prospects of Expanding Local Use and Creating Local Demand”. Presentations on “Power Plant - Challenges, Difficulties & Experience” and “Reshaping the World Aluminium Balance” took attendees through the afternoon session, and the day finished with panel discussions on “Future Technologies” and the “Impact of the Arab Spring on Infrastructure and Economic Growth”.

The evening was rounded off with ‘Qatari Night’ – a celebration of the Qatari way of life, culture and traditions, held at the St. Regis hotel. Delegates were treated to folk music, dance, delicacies and a visit to a Qatari village, before a traditional and sumptuous dinner.