Alumina 2018, the 11th AQW International Conference, which starts today in Gladstone Queensland is organised by the Alumina Quality Workshop (AQW) Inc. and is expected to attract 300 industry players to the city from all over the world.
The three-day global mining conference has kicked with more than 300 leading industry producers and suppliers as delegates. The event this year will also feature speakers from Queensland Alumina Limited and Rio Tinto Yarwun.
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Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations managing director Bruce Cox during his keynote address highlighted the need of ever- improving efficiency and responsibility for business growth.
"Our bauxite to alumina to aluminium supply chain invests A$3.7 billion in Australian wages, suppliers and community contributions every year," Mr Cox said.
He added that the company generates about 5600 jobs across Australia in their aluminium business, including 3000 in Gladstone itself.
He opined that the conference provides a unique opportunity for the industry to come together to discuss common challenges faced by the alumina industry. According to him, cost reduction, raw material optimization, energy economy and technology upgrade are some of the new challenges for the industry.
"It is this continual drive for improved efficiency that will ultimately result in a sustained and thriving alumina industry for the future."
Raphael Costa from Hydro also presented his keynote address 'Shaping the Future of the Bauxite and Alumina Industry in Brazil' at the Alumina 2018 Conference.
It will also host an alumina technology roadmap workshop on the final day to guide R&D initiatives in the industry to 2050 and beyond. The event intends to bring together alumina producers and consumers in order to exchange ideas, deliberate and form new business networks. The event also reaffirms Gladstone’s position at the centre of the Australian alumina industry, which is the largest producer and exporter of alumina in the world.
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