Regional industry conference comes to a close in Bahrain

United Arab Emirates: Emirates Global Aluminium (“EGA”) demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the development of the Middle East as a global aluminium hub through its role as Silver Sponsor of the 18th Arab International Aluminium Conference (“ARABAL 2014”) staged in Manama, Bahrain from 25 to 27 November.

Through its midstream assets, EGA has been involved in ARABAL since the inaugural event in 1983. Its operating assets – Dubai Aluminium (“DUBAL”) and Emirates Aluminium (“EMAL”) – have hosted five ARABAL events in the UAE. DUBAL hosting the event in Dubai on four occasions (including ARABAL’s 25th anniversary in 2008) and EMAL hosted the event in Abu Dhabi in 2013.

This year, the UAE aluminium giant used the event to showcase its vision, technology and brand values. Abdulla Kalban (Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of EGA) was a key speaker during a panel discussion by the CEOs of GCC smelters; and Walid Al Attar (Chief Marketing Officer at EGA) delivered a keynote address on “Why the aluminium markets stand at a crossroad - tough challenges and critical decisions”. In his capacity as Chairman of the Gulf Aluminium Council (“GAC”) EHS Committee, Frank Briganti (Senior Vice President, EHSFS at EGA) delivered a presentation on Environment and Sustainability in the GCC Aluminium Industry; and hosted the GAC Environment and Safety Awards.

“EGA’s commitment to the advancement of the global aluminium industry and the role of the Middle East as an important hub across the value chain is a vital part of our philosophy,”said Kalban. “EGA is the fifth largest primary aluminium producer in the world and currently accounts for about 50 per cent of the total production in the GCC region. This, together with our investments in upstream industry, underscores our vested interest in promoting the operational excellence and competitiveness of the GCC smelters to the rest of the world.”

Hosted and organised by Aluminium Bahrain BSC (“ALBA”), ARABAL 2014 once again attracted hundreds of delegates, including many prominent decision-makers in the aluminium industry.