The 32nd International Conference and Exhibition of ICSOBA entitled "New Challenges of Bauxite Alumina & Aluminium Industry and Focus on China” was held from 12th to 15th October 2014 at the Zhengzhou Research Institute of CHALCO, in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. The successful event was organized in co-operation with the host sponsor CHINALCO.
The number of participants was about 275 from domestic and international organizations and companies.
The Conference consisted of two days of lectures following a Workshop on the aluminium electrolysis. On the opening day there were seven
plenary lectures on various focal points of the Chinese aluminium industry and other selectedsubjects, such as technological developments in Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), in Votorantim Metais and RUSAL Aughinish Refinery.
The
Bauxite and Bauxite Residue session consisted of 12 presentations, the majority on various aspects of bauxite residue. 19 lectures were presented in the
Alumina Technology session. The
Aluminium Production and Carbon Materials session covered 20 presentations. A
Joint Technical Session was alsoheldcovering among others improvement of the operational performance and the building application potential of fly ash. The conference proceedings (Travaux) were made available on pendives and certain number of hard copies was produced as well.
Field trips were organized to visit the Zhongzhou Alumina Refinery of Chalco and the Jiaozou Wanfang Aluminium Smelter on 15th October.
Invitations were presented to the next ICSOBA Conference to be held from 29 November to 1 December 2015 in Dubai and to the Bauxite Residue Valorisation and Best Practices Conference, 5-7 October 2015 in Leuven, Belgium. In the evening of 13th October, a high level cultural programme, which included musicians, magicians and other artists was provided by the host sponsor.
The Host Sponsor of the conference and exhibition was CHINALCO and ZRI (Zhengzhou Research Institute) of CHALCO.
The Gold Sponsors were Shandong Jingjin Environmental Protection Equipment Co, NorthEastern University Institute, Hatch (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Management), Outotecand Nalco – an Ecolab Company.
The Silver Sponsors were Cytec Industries Inc.,GEHO WeirMinerals Netherlands, Feluwa Pumpen GmbH, Hangzhou Newtime Valve Co. Ltd., Bruker AXS, ECL Services for Aluminium Smelters (RTA Subsidiary), Sunresin New Material, Co. Ltd. and Henan Quanshun Flow Control Science and Technology Co. Ltd. TheP&E Software was a
Special Sponsor. R&D Carbon, UC RUSAL, RioTintoAlcan (RTA) and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) were the conference
supporters.
The annual meeting of members, as well as the council meeting were held. Dr Frank Feret stepped down from the role of President of ICSOBA, though he remains on the Board. In order to increase visibility of ICSOBA a post of Honorary President was created. Dr Ali Al Zarouni of EGA, the host of the next conference in Dubai, became the Honorary President for 2015.
