42nd CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION, ICSOBA 2024 in Lyon, France - Post Conference note

The International Committee for Study of Bauxite, Alumina, and Aluminium (ICSOBA) hosted its 42nd International Conference and Exhibition in Lyon, France, from October 27 to 31, 2024, at the Lyon Convention Centre and the adjacent Marriott Hotel.

With its rich history and cultural heritage, Lyon served as the ideal setting for this year's ICSOBA gathering. The region holds a special place in the history of aluminium: Bauxite was first discovered nearby at Les Baux-de-Provence by Pierre Berthier, and pioneering contributions from Paul Héroult further propelled the industry. It was here that the foundations of the aluminium sector were laid, and France has remained a leading force in its development ever since. 

Established in 1963 in Zagreb, ICSOBA proudly counts France as one of its six founding members. Over the years, the organisers of ICSOBA have made substantial efforts to enhance this forum, ensuring both its growth and quality. Originally focused on bauxite, the conference gradually expanded to include alumina and, later, electrolysis.

In 2013, marking ICSOBA's 50th anniversary, a major session dedicated to carbon and electrode materials in electrolysis was introduced for the first time. This year, the conference broadened its scope even further to encompass the rapidly growing field of casting operations.

A special panel discussion, titled "Specialty Hydrate & Alumina - Where Next?" was held as part of the alumina session, addressing novel applications, quality standards, and technological advancements in non-metallurgical hydrates and aluminas. Additionally, two simultaneous short courses were offered, covering the Bayer process and electrolysis, respectively.

There were 570 participants on-site and 160 speakers, which had never happened before. An exhibition of the latest technologies, equipment and services was held with 18 participants. The last day of the conference was devoted to field visits to the Gardanne alumina refinery, the Trimet smelter in Saint-Jean de Maurienne and the Aluminium Dunkerque smelter. 

In terms of quality, ICSOBA participants enjoyed a rich experience in a dynamic environment, engaging with top-tier speakers and presentations. The live broadcast through the Whova platform continued this year, enabling interaction between onsite and online participants and enhancing accessibility and engagement. Additionally, the 2,000-page TRAVAUX proceedings reached a new level of editorial excellence.

Nine "Best Paper" awards were presented to outstanding authors across the Bauxite, Alumina, Bauxite Residue, Electrodes, Aluminium, and Casting sessions, as well as one Special Mention paper for each of those specialities. This year, ICSOBA also sponsored the participation of eight students, supporting the next generation of industry professionals. 

The conference is increasingly becoming a "gathering hub" for the global aluminium community, with ICSOBA's partners organizing dedicated meetings alongside the main event. This year, the European Aluminium Association (EAA) hosted a ReActiv project workshop, while the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) once again held its Bauxite & 3 Alumina Committee (BAC) meeting on the conference's opening day.

Additionally, on Friday, November 1, the Comprehensive Use of Red Mud (CURM) workshop—sponsored by Chinalco and Rio Tinto, organized by the Chinese Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA), and supported by IAI—brought together experts to explore advancements in this field.  

 The organisers would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed at every stage of this significant industry event. They extend their deepest gratitude to the sponsors, exhibitors, corporate members, organisers, and volunteers whose dedication and hard work made this event possible.

Four major players in primary aluminium production in France—Alteo, Aluminium Dunkerque, Rio Tinto, and Trimet France—served as Host Sponsors for the event. Additional support came from an impressive lineup of sponsors: Fives and Reel at the Diamond level; Alba, Bechtel, EGA, Hatch, Hydro, Simonsen, and Tokai Cobex at the Gold level; Nalco Water, SNF, and Syensqo at the Silver level; and CAETE Engenharia, Found Energy, Metlen, Rain Carbon, Sohar Aluminium, and Techmo at the Bronze level. With the backing of 45 corporate members, ICSOBA is honoured by this remarkable show of industry support. 

Once again, the forum demonstrated that ICSOBA offers a unique platform for exchanging information on the latest innovations, making a significant contribution to knowledge dissemination in our industry. As always, all papers published in TRAVAUX Book Volume No. 53, along with the presentations, will be accessible on the ICSOBA website at https://icsoba.org/proceedings/.

Be part of this premier conference—by the Aluminium Industry, for the Aluminium Industry! Join us at ICSOBA 2025!