43rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION ICSOBA 2025

26 - 31 October 2025,
Nanning, China

ICSOBA 2025 will now take place from October 26 to October 31
Follow our website for updates

Invitation and General Information

Dear Colleagues,

The International Committee for the Study of Bauxite, Alumina, and Aluminium (ICSOBA) is proud to announce the 43rd InteInternational Conference and Exhibition, which will be held from October 26 to October 31 2025 in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China. 

 

TThis marks the third time that ICSOBA will take place in China, and the very first time in Guangxi. 

 

The conference will adopt a hybrid format, with the in-person event hosted in Nanning and a real-time broadcast available for delegates unable to attend physically. However, all ICSOBA presenters are expected to travel to China to deliver their presentations on-site.

 

We extend our sincere gratitude to Chinalco for their generous support as the Host Sponsor of the event. 

 

Featuring 3 keynote sessions and over 120 technical papers, the ICSOBA 2025 conference is designed as a three-day technical event organized into four parallel streams, followed by a full day dedicated to technical field trips. 

 

Additional events in connection with ICSOBA 2025 in Nanning will be announced at a later stage. 

 

We look forward to seeing you all at ICSOBA 2025!

Conference topics

ICSOBA 2025 will place a strong emphasis on addressing the critical challenges facing the aluminium industry across the entire value chain, from bauxite mining to smelter casting operations.

 

The conference will delve into key topics, including:

 

  • Sustainability and decarbonisation
  • Energy challenges
  • Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence applications
  • Health, environment, and safety
  • Market scenarios and economic outlook

 

Innovation and new technologies will be at the heart of the discussions.

 

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with international experts, scientists, engineers, technology providers, equipment manufacturers, and key players from the global aluminium industry.

Conference Format

The hybrid format of the conference ensures that you can participate whether you travel to Nanning or join from home. Here’s what distinguishes on-site participation from online participation:

 

  • On-site participants will enjoy the full experience of a traditional ICSOBA conference, including:
  • o Access to papers and presentations prior to the conference opening. o Participation in technical sessions, exhibitions, field trips, and social events. o The exclusive opportunity to present papers in person. o On-demand access to recorded presentations via the conference platform.

     

  • Online participants will benefit from:
  • o Access to papers and presentations before the conference begins. o Live attendance at scheduled sessions (based on Nanning local time). o On-demand access to recorded presentations through the conference platform.

 

This hybrid approach ensures an inclusive and enriching experience for all attendees, regardless of their location.

Conference Languages – English and Chinese

Presentations will be delivered in both English and Chinese, with simultaneous translation provided to ensure accessibility for all attendees. All papers and presentations in English will be published and made available for download in PDF format on the ICSOBA website. Additionally, the papers will be indexed on platforms such as Google Scholar and ResearchGate, complete with DOI references.

 

As an optional resource, a printed proceedings book (TRAVAUX, Vol. 54, English) will be available after the conference.

 

To facilitate the submission process, the ConfTool App has been specially customized for the ICSOBA 2025 Conference. It is fully accessible in China and supports submissions in both Chinese and English.

Exhibition

The latest technologies, equipment, and devices for the aluminium industry will be showcased during the conference.

Exhibitors will be able to upload the brochure and video on the Conference Application – Whova – facilitating seamless interaction with both on-site and online participants.

 

For more information about the exhibition, please contact Bijoy Satpathy: bijoy.satpathy@icsoba.org .

 

2nd Call for Papers

The 2nd Call for papers has more detailed information about conference topics and format, ICSOBA-ZRI joint organising committee, ICSOBA 2025 Technical Committee, Technical Field Trips, ICSOBA Student Award for 2025, Conference Co-sponsors and Supporters. 

Please Follow the templates and instruction of the Call for Papers that are also given at the website of ICSOBA.

 

 

Please use the Conftool System https://www.conftool.net/icsoba2025 to upload your abstract and paper adhering to the key dates below.

Key Dates

  • 1 March 2025Abstract submission deadline
  • 15 March 2025Abstract acceptance notification
  • 31 May 2025Full paper submission deadline
  • 30 June 2025Notification to authors that paper has been received and will be considered for publication
  • 1 August 2025Draft conference program published
  • 26 October 2025Conference starts

Technical Field Trips

During the conference, two technical field trips will be hosted by Chinalco, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers. Participants will have the unique opportunity to visit bauxite mining sites, an alumina refinery, and a smelter.

 

Bauxite Mine and Alumina Refinery - Guangxi Branch of Chinalco

Established in 2002, Guangxi Branch of Chinalco is a state-of-the-art production facility with an annual output of of 6 million tonnes of bauxite and 2.4 million tonnes of alumina. It stands as one of China’s most advanced and innovative production bases.

 

Aluminium Smelter - Guangxi Hualei New Material Co., Ltd.

Founded in 2015, Guangxi Hualei New Material Co., Ltd. is an integrated enterprise specializing in primary aluminum production, power generation, and aluminum processing. With an annual capacity of 400 000 tonnes of primary aluminum, it leverages cutting-edge 500 kA cell technology, setting a benchmark for excellence in the aluminum industry

Sponsorship Opportunities

As you know, organizing a conference of this magnitude would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors.

We are honored to have Chinalco as the Host Sponsor for this year’s conference. Together, ICSOBA and Chinalco warmly invite bauxite, alumina, and aluminium producers, as well as industry partners from China and around the world, to participate in ICSOBA 2025 in Nanning and become conference sponsors.

ICSOBA conference, “The technology Conference of the Aluminium Industry, for the Aluminium Industry”, gives opportunity to your Company to maximize its exposure to the primary aluminium decision makers and influencing technologists.

Please consult the Sponsors Fees and Benefit which illustrates the different options for on-site benefit but also through the Whova application, which will be used both by the on-site and the online delegates.

If you are willing to support ICSOBA activities and to showcase your Company at ICSOBA 2024, feel free to contact claude.vanvoren@icsoba.org for any further information.

ICSOBA Student Awards

This year, ICSOBA is once again encouraging student participation in the conference through the ICSOBA Student Award. Students are invited to submit their applications along with their abstracts. The ICSOBA Award Committee will evaluate the submissions and notify the winners of the award, which typically ranges from 500 to 1000 USD.

Click here to download the application form.

Keep abreast of the latest ICSOBA news!

Connect to ICSOBA newsroom!

About the Host Sponsor

Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chinalco).
Established on September 10, 2001, Chinalco is a holding subsidiary of the Aluminum Corporation of China and is the world’s largest producer and supplier of alumina, aluminum, fine alumina, high-purity aluminum, and aluminum anodes.

As a global leader in the aluminum industry, Chinalco stands out with its comprehensive industrial chain. Its operations span a wide range of sectors, including mineral resource exploration, alumina and aluminum production, aluminum alloys, carbon anodes, coal production, high-tech development, international trade, material supply, logistics, energy, and power.

Chinalco is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (December 2001), New York Stock Exchange (December 2001), and Shanghai Stock Exchange (April 2007). Its A-shares are included in the MSCI China A Onshore Index, and its H-shares are part of the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index.

Recognized for its strong financial standing, Fitch Ratings has consistently assigned Chinalco an A- rating, the highest in the global non-ferrous metal sector. Additionally, Chinalco has achieved an A-level rating for information disclosure on the Shanghai Stock Exchange for four consecutive years and is listed in the “SOEs ESG • Pioneer 50 Index.”

As of the end of 2022, Chinalco managed assets worth 212.3 billion yuan and employed over 68 000 people. It also oversees two publicly listed companies: Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. (000807) and Yinxing Energy Co., Ltd. (000862).

About the Co-Host Sponsor

Nonferrous Metals Society of China (NFSOC).
Founded in 1984, the Nonferrous Metals Society of China (hereinafter referred to as NFSOC or the Society) has 45 branches, and has maintained business contacts with 17 local nonferrous metal societies, with 317 group members, more than 30 000 individual members, and 19 kinds of scientific and technical journals sponsored by itself.

NFSOC was awarded as one of the 100 Science and Technology Volunteer Service societies and Excellent Group of Innovation-driven Projects, etc. by China Association for Science and Technology, and was selected as a first-class society construction project with Chinese characteristics. In 2023, it was approved as a 4A society of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Focusing on pioneering and innovating from the aspects of academic exchanges, journals, popularization of science, talent recommendation, etc., adhering to the purpose of "serving the development of the industry and promoting scientific and technological progress", the Society has become to an important social force to promote the high-quality development of China's non-ferrous metals science and technology.

About the Supporters

ICSOBA is grateful to several local supporters to help us prepare ICSOBA 2025 conference:

Zhengzhou Non-ferrous Metals Research Institute Co., Ltd. of Chinalco(ZRI)
Established in 1965, is a key national research base for the development of new technologies, processes, materials, and equipment in China’s aluminium and magnesium industries. It also serves as a hub for fundamental research and the incubation and transformation of original technological innovations. ZRI has led or participated in the development of major technologies such as 280kA large-scale aluminum electrolysis, diasporic bauxite pipeline digestion, Bayer process alumina production from beneficiated bauxite, and magnesium extraction from carnallite, all of which have significantly advanced the technological progress of China’s aluminium and magnesium industries. Its current R&D scope includes bauxite, alumina, primary aluminum, high-purity aluminum, magnesium smelting, digital industrial applications, and high-performance alumina-based materials.


China National Engineering Research Center for Aluminum Metallurgy
Established in 2003 with approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, is a national-level research base in the field of aluminium smelting technologies. Affiliated with ZRI, the center focuses on tackling key and common technical challenges in China’s aluminium industry and promotes the engineering transformation of new technologies, processes, materials, and equipment.

Guangxi Branch of Chinalco
Established in 2002, Guangxi Branch of Chinalco is a state-of-the-art production facility with an annual output of 6 million tons of bauxite and 2.4 million tons of alumina. It stands as one of China’s most advanced and innovative production bases.

Guangxi Hualei New Materials Co., Ltd
Established in 2015, Guangxi Hualei New Material Co., Ltd. is an integrated enterprise specializing in primary aluminum production, power generation, and aluminum processing. With an annual capacity of 400,000 tons of primary aluminum, it leverages cutting-edge 500KA cell technology, setting a benchmark for excellence in the aluminum industry.

Central South University (CSU)
is a leading Chinese university and a key member of "Project 211," "Project 985," and "Plan 2011." Designated as an A-level world-class university in 2017 and reaffirmed in the "Double First-Class" initiative in 2022, CSU ranked 94th in the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), with its Metallurgical Engineering leading globally. Renowned for its expertise in non-ferrous metals, CSU is a global hub for talent and innovation.

Northeastern University(NEU)
Founded in 1923, is a national key university directly under the Ministry of Education and a "Double First-Class" initiative institution in China, ranking among the top 40 universities nationwide. Renowned for its engineering disciplines, the university houses three State Key Laboratories and four National Engineering Centers. It demonstrates outstanding advantages in fields such as metallurgy, materials science, and automation, with its Metallurgical Engineering program being recognized as a national first-class discipline.

Shenyang Aluminum & Magnesium Engineering & Research Institute Co., Ltd. (SAMI)
Established in 1951, is China's first state-owned design institute. As a world-class technology leader and engineering solutions provider in the aluminum industry, SAMI specializes in R&D and innovation for alumina, electrolytic aluminum, carbon materials, electrodes, and light metals, accelerating global industry transformation toward net-zero and digitalized futures.

Guiyang Aluminum and Magnesium Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. (GAMI)
Established in 1958, is a leading state-owned enterprise in the field of light metal smelting design in China, with a rich historical heritage and strong technological innovation capabilities.Its business scope covers engineering design, engineering consulting, general contracting, intelligent manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, and full-process engineering consulting, with top-tier qualifications in non-ferrous metallurgy, architectural engineering, and engineering contracting.

The Academic Committee of Light Metal Metallurgy.

Guangxi University (GXU)
founded in 1928, a comprehensive university with the longest history and the largest campus in scale in Guangxi, is the only national "Project 211" university , "Double First-class" Initiative university and the co-construction university by the Ministry of Education and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. GXU ranks 89th in Best Chinese Universities Ranking of SHANGHAI RANKING, with its civil engineering technology in long-span arch bridge construction leading globally. Renowned for its expertise in subtropical biology research, marine science, ASEAN and boder ethnicity studies, GXU is dedicated to becoming the CHINA-ASEAN hub for talent cultivation and innovation.

National Engineering and Technology Research Center for Aluminum Magnesium Electrolysis Facilities (NECAME)
Approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China in December 2011,was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China in December 2011. Anchored in the strategic development needs of the domestic and international aluminium and magnesium smelting industries, the center focuses on the engineering research, assimilation, integration, incubation, pilot testing, and industrialization of aluminium and magnesium smelting equipment technologies. Its core mission is to address the industry’s demands for energy conservation, consumption reduction, and emission mitigation through targeted R&D initiatives.

Contact us

For more information please contact

us at info@icsoba.org