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...
Grow with
AL Circle
A brief interview with Didier Ostorero, CEO of Cronus Technology AS
Didier Ostorero, CEO of Cronus Technology AS, has a long association with the aluminium industry. He previously worked with Goodtech Recovery Technology in Oslo as Project Engineer and Chief Technology Officer for about 3 years, for the project 'Heat Recovery from Aluminum Pots Based on Heat Pipe Technology'. Holding a master degree in New & Renewable Energies: Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Fuel cells, and Thermal transfer in buildings, he started his career as an intern and worked on energy efficiency and energy recovery from industrial processes such as primary aluminium production. So, his rock-solid professional journey from an intern to CEO in the aluminium industry definitely offered the AlCircle team no less than a deep insight into the industry when he gave a brief interview. He...
“Hulamin has remained focused on delivering high quality products at competitive costs’ ~ Richard Jacob, CEO of Hulamin
As the only major aluminium rolling operation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Hulamin is one of the largest exporters, representing more than 60% of sales. In January 1990, Richard Jacob had joined Hulamin and since then, held various positions in manufacturing, and sales and marketing. In 2002, he was appointed to the Executive Committee and in 2007 assumed the responsibility for Investor Relations. 3 years later, in 2010, Richard became the Chief Executive Officer of the company. Here, we have shared with you all a brief interview with Mr. Jacob, who implicitly told us about Hulamin’s key strengths behind producing an extensive range of products and also spoke about the key strategies to maintain a sustainable growth rate. If you want to know more, continue reading the interview. Q: What are the...
“If government policies support well, India can become one of the lowest cost aluminium producers in the world” ~ Satyavrat Singh, CEO, Uniseven Engineering & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.
Q: Please elaborate us on the services offered by Uniseven Engineering & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. to the aluminium sector. A: Uniseven Engineering & Infrastructure has a unique business model whereby it represents a large number of equipment technology and EPC solution providers in India and in many countries abroad. Uniseven is currently active with its services from Australia to Brazil along with its different partners from various parts of the world. The key strength of Uniseven is its domain knowledge of the every element of the metal value chain and a large network of domain specialist across the world to support its endeavours. Q: How does Uniseven contribute towards bringing in advanced technologies into the aluminium sector? A: As far as the advanced technologies in the aluminium...
“India is the fastest and most promising growing economy in the world today” ~ Mr. Abhijit Pati, CEO, Aluminium Division, Vedanta Aluminium – Jharsuguda
Mr. Abhijit Pati started his career as a budding engineer with Indian Aluminium Company in the year 1989. In 2008, he joined Vedanta and subsequently became Chief Executive Officer of Aluminium Division, Vedanta Aluminium – Jharsuguda, one of the largest Greenfield Aluminium cum Power complexes in the world. AlCircle had an opportunity to interview him where he shared his strategies to raise Lanjigarh alumina refinery's capacity to 2 million tonnes in 2019 and his projection for the company as well as the aluminium industry in FY2020. If you want to know them detail, go ahead and read our brief conversation. Q: Vedanta Limited has become the largest aluminium producer in India in FY2019, with aluminium production of 1.96 million tonnes. What is your outlook for the company in FY2020? A:...
“Aluminium demand in Europe will continue to be driven by growing demand in many applications despite trade challenges” ~ Gerd Götz, Director General of European Aluminium
European Aluminium, founded in 1981 and based in Brussels, is the voice of the aluminium industry in Europe. Its 80+ members include primary, downstream and recycling producers with more than 600 plants in 30 european countries. Gerd Götz has been Director General of European Aluminium since 2013. Gerd has held different managing roles in public affairs, corporate communications and brand management in Berlin, Hamburg, Brussels and Amsterdam. As the brand ambassador of European Aluminium Gerd has put forward the viewpoint of the association on a number of issues that are impacting the global aluminium sector in 2019: Q: Please give us a heads up on the aluminium ecosystem in Europe? A: We see a mixed picture, with strong performances in our key markets. Primary aluminium production in...
“Sustainability is no more a choice but a need and a requirement, not just in aluminium but in all areas of human activity” ~ Diwakar Gautam, CEO, Sunberg Limited
Sunberg Limited is a UK based metal recycling company, forming an integral link between scrap collectors, recyclers and processors. Sunberg caters to the increasing global demand for recyclable scrap Ferrous and Non Ferrous metals, such as aluminium, brass, copper, zinc, lead, steel and ingots. Diwakar Gautam is the CEO and managing director of Sunberg Limited. He is a post graduate engineer by training. Based in U.K. and has been focusing on metal recycling over the past twenty years. He is sharing his outlook about the aluminium recycling industry while sharing his company’s strategies and projections: Q: Brief us on the company profile and business operations of Sunberg Limited. A: Sunberg Limited based in London, UK started operations in metal recycling industry 20 years ago. Small to...
“For aluminium field the outlook is positive not only for the current year but we foresee an extremely positive result also for the period between 2020 and 2024,” Alberto Ghisetti, Sales Director, Continuus-Properzi
Continuus-Properzi is a world leader in the field of continuous casting lines for nonferrous metal sector. Mr. Alberto Ghisetti is working at Continuus-Properzi since ten years, actually as Sales Director, focused in both aluminium and copper plants for rod and ingots production. He is graduated in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in industrial automation & robotics and has completed an executive master in Project Management. Q: Continuus-Properzi is a world leader in the field of CCR lines for nonferrous rod with a history of more than 70 years. Please tell us about the technological and industry changes that the company has witnessed so far. A: A long time ago, in 1949, a couple of years after the establishment of Continuus-Properzi Company, Ilario Properzi introduced the...
“I am optimistic about the long-term prospects for aluminium and Hydro as the world moves towards the low-carbon, circular economy” ~ Hilde Merete Aasheim, President and CEO of Norsk Hydro.
After serving 11 years as executive vice president and head of Hydro’s Primary Metal business area, Hilde Merete Aasheim assumed her new position in the company as President and CEO on May 8, 2019, with the intention of accelerating the operational excellence by ensuring stricter financial discipline and improved earnings from rolled products. Today, we, the team of AlCircle, are immensely proud to have got a chance to conduct a brief interview with Ms. Aasheim who also happened to be on the board of International Aluminium Institute and Qatar Aluminium Ltd. Starting from her short-term goals to long-term strategies, Aasheim has shared with us her key area of focus to take one of the world’s largest aluminium companies to the next level where it could achieve the benchmark of a...
“The total Primary Aluminium Production by the GCC smelters in 2018 is 5.4 million tonnes, it is expected to increase to 5.7 million tonnes in 2019,”Mahmood Daylami, Secretary General, Gulf Aluminium Council
The Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC) is a coordinating body that represents, promotes and protects the interests of the aluminium industry within the Gulf. GAC members continually explore opportunities for synergy between their operations to improve the region’s international competitiveness. Mahmood Daylami is the Secretary General of GAC and has spent 33 years of his career in various fields of the aluminium industry. Prior to joining GAC, he held the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Aluminium Bahrain (Alba). He is sharing his view on the Gulf aluminium sector in 2019 and ahead: Q: What are the objectives and activities of Gulf Aluminium Council? A: GAC is a coordinating body that represents, promotes and protects the interests of the aluminium industry within the Gulf. The...
“EGA aspires to be measured amongst the world’s leading metals and mining companies in meeting its environmental and social responsibilities” ~ Md. Abdulla Jassem bin Kalban, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EGA
Emirates Global Aluminium, equally owned by Mubadala Development Company of Abu Dhabi and Investment Corporation of Duabi, is an aluminium conglomerate with interests in bauxite/alumina and primary aluminium smelting. With an annual average production of 2.34 million tonnes, EGA ranks among the five largest aluminium producers in the world. To get more insight into the company’s business activities, its strategies, and forecast, read on the interview of none other than Md. Abdulla Jassem bin Kalban, who has been serving as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EGA since its formation through the merger of DUBAL and EMAL in 2014. Md. Kalban had joined the aluminium industry in 1985 and now has 29 years of experience in the sector. Let us see what he has to say about the...
“The tariffs on aluminium, in fact, had little impact on our business in 2018” ~ Hugues Vincent, CEO of the Aluminium Division of Fives
Fives is a business conglomerate from France having diversified business interest. The company specialises in designing and supplying machines, process equipment, and production lines for the world’s largest industrial groups including the aluminium, steel, glass, automotive, aerospace, logistics, cement, and energy sectors. Here, we have shared an excerpt from the interview with the CEO of the aluminium division of the company Mr. Hugues Vincent, who has told us about the business activities of Fives Group and its current projects catering to the aluminium sector, as well as his exclusive outlook for the global aluminium industry in 2019. To know all of that, continue reading the interview: Q: Please brief us on Fives Group’s aluminium business and its area of operations worldwide. A :...
In conversation with Quebec Consul and Director Dominic Marcotte and AluQuébec Working Groups Director Marie-Élaine Jacome
AlCircle had a pleasant opportunity to speak to Mr. Dominic Marcotte, Consul & Director of Québec Government Office in Mumbai, and to Marie-Élaine Jacome, Working Groups Director of AluQuébec at the 7th International Conference on Aluminium and Exhibition (INCAL-2019), Bhubaneswar. Mr. Dominic became the Director of the Québec Government Office in Mumbai in late summer 2016. Previously, he served as the Director of Economic Affairs at the Québec Government Office in Tokyo. Ms. Marie-Élaine Jacome, with more than ten years of manufacturing sector experience, is associated with the working groups of AluQuébec since October 2015. Both Mr. Dominic and Ms. Marie delightfully shared with us the business goal of Quebec’s aluminium industry, and their viewpoint on the US metal tariffs and how...
An interview with Fiona Solomon, CEO of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI)
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) is a global, multi-stakeholder, non-profit standards setting and certification organisation that aims 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 (ASI) gives an insight into the company's current projects and plans for 2019 in the below interview: AlCircle: Congratulations on launching the certification programme for aluminium value chain in 2018! Please brief us on the ASI certification programme. Fiona Solomon: Yes it’s an exciting time for ASI! 2018 was...
An Interview with Jan Guthmann, Managing Director, Herrmann + Hieber, equipment supplier for aluminium extrusion plants
AlCircle had an opportunity to speak to Jan Guthmann, Managing Director, Herrmann + Hieber , a leading supplier of advanced automated equipment solutions to the steel and aluminium extrusion sector in Europe during ALUMINIUM 2018 fair in Dusseldorf. Here is an excerpt from the brief interview: AlCircle: Tell us in brief about Herrmann + Hieber and its products and service Jan Guthmann: We supply intralogistics solutions for the aluminium industry. Our core product is the highly specialized automated crane which figures as a core element of a modern aluminium extrusion plant. The Automated Crane or Process Crane as it is called can also be used to transport Coils automatically. AlCircle: What are the key sectors for the products and services of Herrmann + Hieber? Jan Guthmann: We offer...
A brief Interview with Bani Baran, International Sales & Marketing Director, Com-S, Istanbul, Turkey
Com-S is an Istanbul based company dealing in aluminium extrusion dies and tools and supplying to the extruders in Europe and MENA region. AlCircle had a brief discussion with Bani Baran, International Sales & Marketing Director for Com-S on their business strategies and industry outlook. Here is an excerpt from the interview: AlCircle: Tell us in brief about Com-S and its products and service Bani Baran: Com-S is a manufacturer of Aluminium Extrusion Dies and Tools for extrusion sector, enhancing their works and helping them accomplish better quality in production. We are located in Istanbul, Turkey. By means of our fast in time delivery, after sale service & production method we have been cooperating with our customers from 25 countries. Most of our customers are located in Europe,...
An AlCircle exclusive interview with Hugues Vincent, CEO of the Aluminium Division of Fives
Fives is a business conglomerate from France having diversified business interest. The company specialises in designing and supplying machines, process equipment, and production lines for the world’s largest industrial groups including the aluminium, steel, glass, automotive, aerospace, logistics, cement, and energy sectors. AlCircle had the opportunity to meet Mr. Hugues Vincent, CEO of the Aluminium Division of Fives and discuss about its business and current projects catering to the aluminium sector on the sideline of the Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL), the premium platform for the aluminium industry that took place in Kuwait city from 11-13 November, 2018. AlCircle could get an insight into the latest innovations and developments in the industry, directly from a key...
An interview with Abdelzaher Abdelsattar Hassan Abdou, Chairman & CEO, Egyptalum; the oldest aluminium producer in the MENA region
Egyptalum (Egyptian Aluminium Company) is the largest aluminium producer in Egypt and the oldest in the MENA region. It is also one of the largest in North Africa having a total annual production of around 320,000 tonnes. It produces primary aluminium and rolling and extrusion products. Abdelzaher Abdelsattar Hassan Abdou is the Chairman and CEO of Egyptalum who brings more than 37 years of experience to the aluminium production process in Egyptalum. The company has significantly transformed under his leadership to reach an annual production capacity of 320,000 tonnes by the end of 2010. AlCircle had the opportunity to meet Abdelzaher Abdelsattar Hassan Abdou and discuss about his company’s current projects and future plans on the third day of the Arab International Aluminium Conference...
P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis on DROSRITE™, the salt-free, cost-effective system for aluminium recovery from dross
PyroGenesis Canada Inc. is a Company that designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products. PyroGenesis' DROSRITE™ system is a salt-free, cost-effective process for maximizing aluminium recovery from dross, a waste generated in the smelting, processing and recycling process. Mr. P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis, provides a general update on its DROSRITE™ business line in the below interview: AlCircle: Please describe to us in brief what DROSRITE™ is, and some of its benefits? Mr. Pascali: Let’s take an aluminium smelter as an example. As the hot aluminium is formed, it comes in contact with oxygen, and a dross is formed on the surface. This dross acts like a sponge and it effectively absorbs valuable metal. The...
