Can Oklahoma reshape US aluminium supply? EGA’s Ziad Fares explains the project
As the US seeks to rebuild its domestic aluminium production capacity, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum are advancing plans for a new primary aluminium smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, targeting more than 750,000 tonnes of annual production. In this exclusive conversation with AL Circle, Ziad Fares, Project Director for Oklahoma Primary Aluminum , discusses the project’s strategic rationale, progress towards a targeted construction start in early 2027, planned smelting technology, power and infrastructure requirements, investment considerations, and its potential impact on US aluminium supply chains. He also addresses environmental safeguards and stakeholder concerns. Fares brings more than 20 years of experience across engineering, strategy, finance, metals and mining, and...
The lower the aluminium content of the dross, the greater the aluminium recovery benefit RAME can achieve
In a recent conversation with AL Circle, Eric Lefebvre, Vice President of Business Development at Lefebvre Industri-AL, discussed the company’s approach to recovering and recycling aluminium residues and its role in advancing the circular economy. Based in Quebec, Lefebvre Industri-AL develops solutions, including RAME technology, that transform aluminium residues into reusable resources while helping producers reduce their environmental footprint and improve operational efficiency. With extensive experience in the industrial sector, Lefebvre works with aluminium producers, technology partners and other industry stakeholders to develop strategic partnerships and expand markets. His approach focuses on turning the industry’s environmental challenges into economically viable opportunities...
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“Economic disruptions caused by the pandemic have been felt by all. Continued production of low carbon aluminium can alleviate disruptions in downstream markets through security of supply, especially as the material can be applied to key industry sectors including transportation, construction, packaging, renewable energy technology and more”, James Herbert, Global Sales Director, ALTEK
James Herbert, the Global Sales Director of ALTEK, is a Chartered Professional Engineer who has been involved in the aluminium industry for over 20 years. He has worked for companies on the equipment supply side as well as in a production environment and has expertise in various fields of the aluminium industry including scrap decoating, metal circulation and dross handling and recycling. James has authored and co-authored numerous technical papers on the above subjects and holds several patents associated with technologies for handling and managing aluminium dross. AlCircle: Could you please explain ALTEK’s journey in regard to technology for the low carbon aluminium production? Mr James Herbert: Since we were acquired by Harsco Environmental (a global market-leading provider of...
“Our low carbon aluminium is called ALLOW; a cleaner and ‘greener’ aluminium brand crafted with renewable hydropower. ALLOW comes with an average carbon footprint of 2.4 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne of aluminium produced (Scope 1&2, at smelter)”, Roman Andryushin, Director - Sales and Marketing, RUSAL
Roman Andryushin was appointed as Director for Sales and Marketing in May 2018. He is responsible for all sales at RUSAL globally. Prior to this, between 2014 and 2018, Roman Andryushin was the Head of Russia and CIS Sales Directorate at RUSAL. He was responsible for the marketing and sales of a wide range of the Company’s products in Russia and CIS. Roman Andryushin graduated with Honours from the Novocherkassk State Technical University, Economics and Management Department. Later he obtained an EMBA degree from Lorange Institute of Business Switzerland and an MBA from the University of Wales, Great Britain. He also holds a Ph.D. in economics. AlCircle: RUSAL is a global leader in low carbon aluminium production. Can you share your journey? Mr Roman Andryushin: Sustainability has always...
“START’s purpose is to provide our customers with transparent and traceable information regarding the sustainable nature of our aluminium products”, Tolga Egrilmezer, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Rio Tinto Aluminium
Tolga Egrilmezer, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Rio Tinto and a member of the Rio Tinto Aluminium Executive Committee, where he is leading the global mine to market organisation in bauxite, alumina and aluminium & value-added products sales, marketing, trading and technical & product development teams. AlCircle: Could you please share the glances of Rio Tinto’s journey towards the production of low carbon aluminium? Mr Tolga Egrilmezer: At Rio Tinto Aluminium, we are proud to be a global leader in the responsible production and stewardship of aluminium; we produce some of the highest quality, lowest carbon footprint aluminium in the world. In the past 5 years, we have: Launched the industry's first certified low carbon aluminium, RenewAL (2016) became the first company to receive...
“Low Carbon Aluminium has a pivotal role to play in the post Covid world,” Guillaume de Goÿs, Chief Operations Officer of ALVANCE, the Aluminium division of the GFG Alliance
Guillaume de Goÿs, ECAM Lyon (1995) and MBA, IAE Lyon (2015), started his career as a Project Manager for Michelin (1996-2002). During 2002-2006, he joined the aluminium industry in Pechiney/Alcan in Cameroon, followed by Saint-Jean de Maurienne, Rio Tinto, during 2006-2010. He served the Vénissieux factory for Carbone Savoie as a Director during 2010-2014, Aluminium Dunkerque as a Managing Director during 2015-2018, and then Alvance Aluminium Dunkerque during 2018-June 2020. In June 2020, he was appointed as a Chief Operations Officer of ALVANCE, the Aluminium division of the GFG Alliance. He is also the President of Aluminium France, the French association of aluminium producers. To know his view about Green Aluminium and how ALVANCE is working towards the development of an end-to-end...
“In 2021, we are pleased to report that the lost business has already returned and looking at forecasts, we expect good growth in sales of both Optifine and our new super Optifine product, particularly for plants with high-quality applications within the big groups”, John Courtenay, chairman, MQP
John Courtenay is the Chairman of MQP, the leading specialist for the global aluminium industry and producer of high-efficiency grain refiner Optifine. Studying metallurgy at the University of Aston, John Courtenay started at Foseco International, working his way through ONC, HNC and LIM, before being seconded to Foseco Canada for three years to work on an exciting new product for steel continuous casting plants, going onto hold several International marketing and technical positions before joining Foseco Japan as General Manager of their steel mills division, returning to Foseco International in 1983. In 1986, he switched from steel to aluminium, starting a long association with aluminium casthouse technology as Director of Technology and marketing of Foseco Aluminium. After the sale of...
“In 2021, the Standards Revision work will continue to make important progress with a goal of launching the new version of the program in March 2022”, Fiona Solomon, CEO, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) is a global, multi-stakeholder, non-profit standards setting and certification organisation, aiming to recognise and foster the responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. ASI is the result of producers, users and stakeholders in the aluminium value chain coming together with a commitment to maximising the contribution of aluminium to a sustainable society. Fiona Solomon, CEO of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative gives an insight into the ASI's thoughts about COVID 19 impact on the global aluminium value chain and developments in 2021 in the below interview: AlCircle: ASI has already certified major aluminium producers in the global aluminium value chain. How is it influencing the other companies to go for ASI Certification?...
“After the reduction of capital equipment expenditure in 2020, we indeed see a significant increase in demand for aluminium cast house equipment”, Michael Rockstroh, Managing Director of RIA Cast House Engineering GmbH
Michael Rockstroh has extensive experience in project management, equipment design, engineering services, and business development related to aluminium casthouse machinery with a focus on charging and skimming machines. He began working fulltime for Rackwitz Industrieanlagen GmbH (now RIA Cast House Engineering GmbH) in 2012, although assisted part-time in the workshop as far back as the year 2000. Michael has a B.Sc. and M. Sc. in Industrial Engineering, both from the University of Applied Sciences Jena in Germany. AlCircle is pleased to interview Mr Rockstroh and know his aluminium market projection for 2021 and how his company is gearing up for the year. AlCircle: What new developments are you planning for your Cast House equipment in 2021? Mr Michael Rockstroh: After very interesting...
“The aerospace market is going to take some time still to recover from the pandemic and we expect demand to remain muted in 2021 due to lower consumer air travel”, Sachin Satpute - President of Novelis Asia and SVP of Novelis Inc.
Sachin Satpute is President of Novelis Asia and Senior Vice President of Novelis Inc. since 1st June, 2016. In this role, he is responsible for leading the overall business strategy and P&L of Novelis’ Asia Pacific business, which includes sales to the automotive, beverage can and specialty product markets. He also has oversight responsibilities with Ulsan Aluminium, a joint venture between Novelis Korea and Kobe Steel, Japan. Prior to being named to this position in June 2016, Sachin served as Chief Marketing Officer, Hindalco Industries Limited. Before joining in his role with Hindalco, he held roles of increasing responsibility within Novelis including Director, Business Development & Strategy for Novelis Asia; Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Technical Services for Novelis Asia; and...
“The development of innovations and the introduction of new technologies and products remain the Company's top priority. RUSAL develops, tests and implements advanced technologies, materials and equipment that often have no analogues in the world”, Evgenii Nikitin, Chief Executive Officer, RUSAL
Mr Nikitin was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of RUSAL in November 2018. Before this, he was the acting CEO of the Company from May 2018 and RUSAL’s Head of Aluminium Division from January 2014. Prior to that, he was the director of the Aluminium Division East from October 2013, while before that appointment Mr Nikitin was the Managing Director of KrAZ, one of the world’s largest aluminium production facilities. From 2008 to 2010, he was Managing Director of SAZ after beginning his career with the Group as a reduction pot operator in 1993. Mr Nikitin graduated from the Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation in 1989 and from Lomonosov Moscow State University with a Master’s degree in business management (MBA) production systems in 2009. It was a great opportunity to...
“I´m sure 2021 will be a truly successful year for the aluminium industry”, André E. Barten, President & CEO of the Achenbach Group
André E. Barten is President & CEO of the Achenbach Group, leading the family company in the 8th generation. He studied mechanical engineering and business administration and is an award winner in 2021 of the famous ‘Social Market Economy Award’ of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Together with his team he was awarded the Handelsblatt Diamond Star Award 2019 in the category ‘Best Industrial Solution 4.0 – Smart Solution’ for the Achenbach OPTILINK System. As part of the Industry Advisory Board of the Cluster of Excellency ‘Internet of Production’ of the RWTH Aachen, André E. Barten is engaged in various activities around the digitalization of production technology. Read the interview to know his projection for the 2021 aluminium industry. AlCircle: How do you anticipate the year 2021 for...
“We can see some positive signals from the market. I believe that the LME returns to a level that is viable for our customers, which should free-up investments”, Benjamin Ulmann, Fives’ Aluminium Regional Sales Director, Middle East
Benjamin, graduated in 2005, worked for 8 year as Sales & Marketing for US based company named LUFKIN (now part of GE), a worldwide leading manufacturer of gearing solutions. Then in 2013, he worked for a UK based company named WELDING ALLOYS, a manufacturer of advanced welding consumables, automated equipment for wear protection, and engineered wear solutions. In 2016, he joined the Aluminium division of the French group Fives. After having worked with several subsidiaries of the division in the UK and in France, he is now Regional Sales Director for the Middle East. Benjamin has shared his insightful thoughts on how the use of smart automation solutions in aluminium plants will increase remarkably in 2021. Here is an excerpt from the interview: AlCircle: Do you plan to design any new...
“2021 will probably be a year of slow healing for the complete industry. What I see is that the effect of LME on aluminium pricing was probably as important as the COVID-crisis”, Peter Vanvuchelen, Director Sales & Business Development, Hencon
AlCircle: How do you visualize 2021 for the global aluminium industry after the COVID-19 economic impact? Mr Peter Vanvuchelen: It is very difficult to predict what will happen, and how industries will react, as a pandemic situation as COVID is a completely new situation for every one of us. 2021 will probably be a year of slow healing for the complete industry. What I see is that the effect of LME on aluminium pricing was probably as important as the COVID-crisis. We observed that since Q4 2020 (when aluminium prices equalled their old level) aluminium-industry started picking up projects again. My feeling is that we start to learn and live with the ‘new situation’ and that even our way of thinking and look at how to be productive will be changed profoundly and definitively, even after...
“There is no question the international mining industry was crippled during the 2020 Covid-19 period. However, in early 2021 Canyon sees the door opening, international travel is returning at a cost, and developing countries like Cameroon are welcoming investment and development of domestic mining projects”, Rick Smith, Director
General, CAMALCO SA (Canyon Resources’ wholly-owned Cameroon subsidiary). Mr Rick Smith was appointed as Director-General of the Canyon’s wholly-owned Cameroon subsidiary Camalco Cameroon SA (Camalco) on 17 th January 2021and will be based in Cameroon. Mr Smith will focus on the delivery of the Project through key agreements with suppliers and the Government. Mr Rick Smith was previously a senior executive, within Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), who successfully commissioned the $1.4 billion CAPEX, GAC Project. The bauxite mine is located in Tinguilinta, Guinea and is West Africa’s newest bauxite mine that will export 12 million tonnes per annum through its Kamsar bauxite port facilities which were commissioned in Q3 2019. Mr Smith has more than 35 years of experience in a variety of...
“We have no doubt that the long-term future of aluminium is bright”, Cédric Schmuck, Deputy CEO of REEL International SAS
Cédric Schmuck is Deputy CEO at REEL International SAS, where he has over 25 years’ experience in different Engineering, Project Management, Business development, and Executive management positions. Active since 1999 in the aluminium industry, Cédric has been in charge of REEL’s Aluminium Division till end 2020. Cédric graduated from engineering school Arts et Métiers in Lyon and holds an MBA from Würzburg University, Germany. Here is a brief excerpt of his interview with AlCircle: AlCircle: Could you please share the insights of the latest acquisition of FLS Möller and Outotec Aluminium business by REEL? Mr Cédric Schmuck : At REEL, we strongly believe in the future of sustainable aluminium, which will be key in the global efforts in the fight against climate change. As demand for the...
“LivNSense has invested significantly into delivering IIoT & AI Based Innovations for Metals Industry, especially with focus into Bauxite Refineries and Aluminium Smelter Plants”, Avnish Kumar, Founder and CEO, LivNSense Technologies Pvt. Ltd
Avnish Kumar, Founder and CEO of LivNSense Technologies Pvt. Ltd., has a proven and astounding experience of 25+ years in the Engineering and Information Technology (IT) industry. Being an alumnus of NIT-Durgapur and MBA from the University of Melbourne itself speaks volumes about his expertise and knowledge in the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Mr Avnish is a business and technology leader with extensive experience in IIOT, AI, AI-Vision, Cloud Engineering and Product R&D with a successful track record of innovating “out of box” products. Mr Kumar kick-started his career by being a part of the R&D team in the Telecommunication Industry and had been with Motorola, before moving on to Infosys. After working for Infosys for some time, he switched...
“Lucchini RS in the Aluminium business: How forged steel products enhance the aluminium productivity” - Maurizio Grisanti, Commercial Director of the Forging & Casting Division at Lucchini RS
Federico Piazza from AlCircle Team had a special meeting with Maurizio Grisanti, Commercial Director of the Forging & Casting Division at Lucchini RS. The tradition and skills of Mr. Grisanti allow enhancing a peculiar drive into the metallurgical research between the aluminium and steel production. AlCircle : Lucchini RS Group's Forging and Casting Division aims to consolidate its contribution to the aluminium sector. Which product is it offering in this market? Maurizio Grisanti : Since several years, the Lucchini RS Group has been looking at the aluminium industry with growing interest because this non-ferrous metal has so many applications—ranging from the automotive sector, to the industrial sector, to packaging and consumer electronics. Its characteristics mean that it can serve as...
Survey on metallurgy and transport in Russia, with an interview to Antonello Colussi, CEO of Danieli Russia by Federico Piazza
The aluminum industry in Russia is not catalyzed only by the presence of the giant Rusal, the world's second largest group in the primary product market. In fact Russia also boasts advanced laboratories and research centers, such as those that gather every year at the Congress "Non-ferrous metals and minerals" at Krasnoyarsk, in the mining region of Siberia. In the field of research for innovation in industrial applications, for example, the work of MISIS, the Russian National University of Science and Technology, deserves to be highlighted for experimenting new aluminum alloys (Al-Ni-La crystallization) that enable a significant reduction in weight for transport, aeronautics and automotive. Plenty of innovation particularly regards aluminium for transports. For example, it concerns new...
“Our guess is that the world’s top priority will be to better protect our environment, and at Fives, we are determined to become an active player in environmental commitments in the post-COVID-19 world.” - Aurélie Fillon, VP Services, Fives - Aluminium division.
Graduated from Edhec Business School in Lille in 2000, Aurélie has been first working as an Auditor at Ernst&Young before joining Fives Group in 2004 as Financial Controller at the Head Office. In 2007, she became Financial Control of Fives Solios before being promoted to CFO. In 2018, she moved to the position of VP Services of the Aluminium division of Fives, supervising four Services Companies (Canada, Australia, South Africa and the Middle East) plus the Europe Front office. She is leading the Services strategy and its implantation. AlCircle: How COVID-19 changes the outlook for 2020 for the aluminium industry? Aurélie Fillon: As everybody knows, the situation is for now very complex for the producers of aluminium. Despite the drop in the demand of aluminium, the production of...
