Invitation and General Information
Dear Colleagues,
The International Committee for the Study of Bauxite, Alumina, and Aluminium (ICSOBA) is proud to announce the 44th International Conference and Exhibition, which will be held from 15 to 20 November 2026 in Bengaluru, Karnataka state, India.
This will be the fourth ICSOBA event in India, and the very first time in Karnataka.
This year, the conference reverts to an in-person event. There will be no online broadcast of the conference.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Hindalco for their generous support as the Host Sponsor of the event.
Featuring 3 keynote sessions and over 160 technical papers, the ICSOBA 2026 conference is designed as a four-day technical event organized in four parallel streams, followed by a full day dedicated to technical field trips.
The Exhibition of latest equipment and technologies will be held along with technical sessions.
Additional events in connection with ICSOBA 2026 in Bengaluru will be announced at a later stage.
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. We look forward to welcoming you to ICSOBA 2026!
Conference topics
ICSOBA 2026 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 focus on 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.
Conference Format
The participants will enjoy the full experience of a traditional ICSOBA conference, including:
- Access to papers and presentations prior to the conference opening.
- Participation in keynote and technical sessions, exhibitions, field trips, and social events.
- The exclusive opportunity to present papers in person. While keeping with the main fields of bauxite-alumina-aluminium, the conference will focus on the industry key challenges of today, maintaining a high scientific and technical innovation nature focused on industrial application of scientific results to pilots and plants.
Please note that there will be no online participation this year as based on low number of online participants over the last four years, ICSOBA decided to stop the online component of the conference for 2026.
Conference Languages
The conference language will be English. All papers and presentations will be in English and 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.
We do not print a conference proceedings book any longer. The Travaux volumes and individual papers of 2026 conference will be published at ICSOBA website.
Exhibition
The latest technologies, equipment, and devices for the aluminium industry will be showcased during the conference.
The exhibition will be held at The Leela Bhartiya City, Bengaluru Hotel, in the lobbies adjacent to the conference rooms, from 16 to 19 November (4 days), running concurrently with the conference.
35 exhibitor booths will be available, each offering 6 m² of space equipped with tables and chairs. Each booth will include a power supply and Wi-Fi access in accordance with the official floor plan.
Due to the limited number of exhibition spaces, reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
The cost for each booth is USD 3 500 including GST. Please note that all exhibitors must register separately for the conference to access conference sessions and related activities. A storage room/space may be made available at the venue for exhibitors wishing to ship materials in advance.
Exhibitors who also choose to become sponsors will receive exclusive benefits and discounts as outlined in the sponsorship packages in the Sponsors Fees and Benefits document.
Moreover, exhibitors will benefit from enhanced visibility through the Conference App and website.
For more information about the exhibition, please contact Dr. Bijoy Satpathy at bijoy.satpathy@icsoba.org.
First Circular of ICSOBA 2026
The first circular issued on 20 July 2026 covers most of up-to-date information of the conference preparation including Conference venue and hotel booking instructions, registration fees and visa support, program highlights and Keynote speakers, social events and the IFCURM Meeting.
At this stage, the Organizing Committee is carrying out the technical review of the papers with the aim of keeping with the high ICSOBA standards and inviting submission of presentations. Please use the 2026 Presentation template when making your presentation.
Please use the Conftool System https://www.conftool.net/icsoba2026 to upload your presentation adhering to the key dates below.
Authors' Guidelines and Paper Templates
With the aim of maintaining the high standards of ICSOBA, we are targeting to have a more guiding process leading to the papers and presentations for the conference.
- To keep to 4 parallel streams, the number of presentations over the 4 days will be limited. We encourage contribution on identification of industrial solutions to today’s key challenges of our industry such as sustainability, decarbonization, energy challenge, etc.
- Subject organizers (click here to see the list) will review abstracts within two weeks after the submission deadline and will inform the authors if their abstracts are accepted.
- Paper and presentation review process will start immediately after submission.
ICSOBA 2026 Technical Program
With 9 keynote papers presented in 3 keynote sessions and over 160 technical papers, the ICSOBA conference is planned as 4-day technical conference followed by one full day for technical field trips.
- Sunday November 15 – Registration and welcome reception.
- Monday November 16 to Thursday November 19 – Keynote and technical sessions
- Monday November 16 – Gala Dinner.
- Friday November 20 - Field trips.
Keynote Speakers of ICSOBA 2026
Aluminium Industry at the Crossroads: Growth, Sustainability and Innovation
Jonathan Grant
Secretary General,
International Aluminium Institute (IAI), London, United Kingdom
Short BioNavigating Geopolitical Turmoil While Staying the Course on Sustainability
Brijendra Pratap Singh
Chairman-cum-Managing Director,
National Aluminium Company, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Short BioGrowth and Opportunities of Aluminium Industry – Indian Perspective
Operation of UTKAL Refinery – Best Practices and Utilization of Bauxite Residue at Hindalco
Vaishali Surawar
Chief Sustainability Officer (Joint President),
Hindalco Industries, Mumbai, India
Short BioOperation of UTKAL Refinery – Best Practices and Utilization of Bauxite Residue at Hindalco
Recent Technical and Market Developments in the Global Bauxite Mining and Alumina Refining Sector
Uday Patel
Senior Research Manager, Global Aluminium Markets,
Wood Mackenzie, London, United Kingdom
Short BioAluminium Market Outlook - A New Age of Disruption
Preventing Unplanned Production Stoppages Due to Safety Hazards and Accidents
Satish Pai
Jonathan Grant
Brijendra Pratap Singh
Saurabh Khedekar
Vaishali Surawar
Alan Clark
Uday Patel
Alex Lowery
Satish Pai
Managing Director,
Hindalco Industries, Mumbai, India
Biography
Satish Pai joined Hindalco Industries in 2013 and has been Managing Director since 2016. In his role as MD, he also oversees the operations of Hindalco subsidiary Novelis Inc., the world’s largest aluminium rolling and recycling company. Prior to joining Aditya Birla Group, Satish worked for 28 years with Schlumberger. Based out of Paris, he was responsible for Schlumberger operations globally.
He has charted a transformational path for the company from its traditional metals manufacturing role to being a provider of high
value engineered solutions in aluminium, copper and specialty alumina.
Mr Pai has served in key industry forum roles and currently serves as Director on the boards of Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt. Ltd., and BP p.l.c.
Jonathan Grant
Secretary General,
International Aluminium Institute (IAI), London, United Kingdom
Biography
Jonathan is Secretary General of the International Aluminium Institute where he oversees sustainability work, governance and communications. The IAI’s dual purpose is to promote standards in the aluminium industry and to promote aluminium in society. For over 25 years, Jonathan has led work on corporate strategy, energy and climate action, operating at the Executive Committee and Board level. Prior to joining the IAI, he worked at Rio Tinto in the strategy and climate teams, in PwC's sustainability practice and as technical advisor on climate change at Chevron. Jonathan has worked with a range of industry associations including IPIECA, WBCSD and ICMM and was Chair of the Board of the International Emissions Trading Association from 2019-2021.
Brijendra Pratap Singh
Chairman-cum-Managing Director,
National Aluminium Company, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Biography
Shri Brijendra Pratap Singh, a distinguished professional in the steel and mining sector, holds a degree in Mining Machinery Engineering from IIT Dhanbad (formerly ISM Dhanbad), earned in 1989. He also possesses an MBA in Marketing, further enriching his academic credentials.
Beginning his career at the Iron Ore Mine of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) in 1989, Shri Singh has amassed over 35 years of exceptional experience spanning both mining and steel operations. His professional journey is marked by key leadership roles and a deep- rooted expertise in integrated steel plants.
Prior to assuming charge as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of NALCO, Shri Singh served as Director-In-Charge of Burnpur and Durgapur Steel Plants and was a Board Member of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). His career is distinguished by a rare and comprehensive command of the operational dynamics of four major SAIL steel plants: BSP (Bhilai Steel Plant); BSL (Bokaro Steel Limited); DSP (Durgapur Steel Plant); ISP (IISCO Steel Plant).
His strategic vision and deep industry expertise have been instrumental in advancing the Company’s Brownfield expansion and capacity augmentation, driving the growth and sustainability of the Company.
In addition to his leadership at NALCO, Shri Singh is also a Director on the Board of Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) and Utkarsha Aluminium Dhatu Nigam Limited, both joint venture companies of NALCO.
Saurabh Khedekar
President & CEO – Alumina Business,
Hindalco Industries, Mumbai, India
Biography
Saurabh Khedekar is a transformation-oriented global business leader at the Aditya Birla Group, currently serving as CEO of the Alumina Business at Hindalco Industries Limited. He leads the integrated Specialty Alumina and Metal Grade Alumina verticals, powering high-growth sectors such as EVs, semiconductors, electronics, and renewables across 40+ countries. The portfolio includes the world’s lowest-cost alumina refinery and strategic businesses in Red Mud, Carbon, and Vanadium.
An ABG Leadership Program alumnus, Saurabh has over 25 years of experience across metals, cement, retail, and consulting, where he has spearheaded multi-billion-dollar acquisitions, driven profitability growth, and championed ESG excellence. He has also served as Principal Executive to the Group Chairman, Kumar Mangalam Birla, gaining deep exposure to enterprise-wide strategy and transformation.
Beyond business, he is deeply committed to community development, leading livelihood initiatives that empower artisans and local stakeholders like Aadyam Handwoven and the Kosala Livelihood and Social Foundation.
Saurabh Khedekar is a Chartered Accountant and an MBA from the Indian School of Business.
Vaishali Surawar
Chief Sustainability Officer (Joint President),
Hindalco Industries, Mumbai, India
Biography
· Accomplished sustainability and metals industry leader with 34 years of experience across steel, aluminium and copper sectors.
· Bachelor of Technology in Metallurgical Engineering from VNIT, Nagpur, and MBA from U21 Global, Singapore.
· Serves as Chief Sustainability Officer for Hindalco, leading sustainability strategy across 19 factories and 23 mines.
· Developed Hindalco ESG 2050 Strategic Goal Sheet and led publication of the company’s Integrated Report.
· Driving transformative initiatives in air, water, waste, biodiversity and single-use plastic reduction through 100+ projects.
· First woman Unit Head of Hindalco Taloja and the first female Unit Head within the Aditya Birla Group.
· Recognized as Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Transformation Champion of the Year (2023).
· Recipient of multiple Chairman’s Awards including Exceptional Contributor, Young Achiever and Team Excellence awards.
· International experience in product development and market expansion across Asia and Europe.
· Led Taloja plant to several prestigious recognitions including Denso Japan Outstanding Business Partner Award.
· Instrumental in Hindalco achieving global ESG leadership, including Top 1% ranking in S&P Global ESG assessments.
· Recognized as Indian Sustainability Icon (2024) and invited speaker at leading sustainability and circular economy forums.
· Received Ministry of Mines appreciation for outstanding leadership and contribution to the metals and mining sector in 2025.
· Vice-Chair for CII GreenCo forum and member for Jalshakti Water conservation group.
· Passionate advocate for women’s leadership, encouraging young women to be bold, confident and purpose-driven.
Alan Clark
Founder and Managing Director,
CM Group, Glenelg, South Australia
Biography
Alan Clark is founder and Managing Director of the CM Group, a privately owned research advisory specialising in the analysis of global base and minor metals industries. Alan is a metallurgical engineer (University of South Australia) with an MBA specialising in Management of Technology (University of Melbourne) and over 30 years’ industry experience. Alan began his career as a research engineer with RioTinto Aluminium (formerly Comalco), later taking on roles with RioTinto in research, process improvement and marketing, before establishing Clark & Marron in 1999, later becoming the CM Group in 2011.
Alan’s experiences cover many of the world’s base metals and minerals industries, including bauxite, alumina, primary aluminium, nickel, magnesium, lithium, scandium, tungsten and molybdenum. Alan is an authority on the global aluminium value-chain; he advises the world’s largest aluminium producers, as well as investment banks, fund managers, governments, trading houses, industry groups and technology providers seeking to better understand the industry. He is a regular speaker at international conferences and events.
Alan has strong connections into China’s base and minor metals industries, forged over more than twenty years of research and consulting in China. He boasts an extensive ‘guanxi’ (network) across the breadth of many of China’s metals industries. Alan has lived and worked in Australia, Europe and China and conducted dozens of on-the-ground research field studies in countries as diverse as Russia, South Africa, Jamaica, Vietnam, Indonesia, Argentina and Guinea.
Uday Patel
Senior Research Manager, Global Aluminium Markets,
Wood Mackenzie, London, United Kingdom
Biography
Uday Patel has over 30 years of experience in the metals and mining sector covering Aluminium and other metals. He joined Wood Mackenzie in 2014 and is Senior Research Manager, Global Aluminium Markets. His industry experience includes Outokumpu, Ma’aden Saudi Arabia, DUBAL where he contributed to the startup of EMAL phases 1 and 2. During his career he has also worked on a range of projects across the entire aluminium value chain, including detailed market studies, cost analyses and strategic advisory work for clients including rolled producers, aluminium processing companies and financial organizations. Uday is a graduate of the London Business School’s executive management programme, Sussex University and the University of Exeter
Alex Lowery
General Manager,
Wise Chem, New Albany, Ohio, USA
Biography
Alex Lowery is a leading expert in plant safety for the aluminum industry. His Aluminum Safety Management column in Light Metals Age magazine and the Aluminum Plant Safety Blog he edits are recognized globally.
Alex actively collaborates with aluminum associations around the world to develop innovative safety training programs and techniques that prevent injuries and save lives. Currently, he is spearheading a project focused on proper load securement for flatbed trucks.
Expanding his global reach, Alex recently launched a series of safety presentations in partnership with TALSAD (Turkish Aluminium Industrialists Association), a program he anticipates bringing to other countries worldwide. Alex has dedicated the past 17 years to editing the Aluminum Plant Safety Blog as a vital industry resource. In his spare time, he provides independent safety consulting services to help companies identify hazards and protect their workforce.
Companies that have submitted technical papers for ICSOBA 2026
Key Dates
- March 16, 2026Abstract submission deadline
- April 15, 2026Abstract acceptance notification
- June 15, 2026Full paper submission deadline
- July 13, 2026Conference REGISTRATION starts
- August 01, 2026Notification to authors that paper has been received and will be considered for publication pending technical review
- August 30th, 2026Early bird registration finishes
- September 1st, 2026Draft conference program published
- September 28, 2026Presentation submission deadline
- November 15, 2026Opening of the Conference
Technical Field Trips
During the conference, technical field trips will be hosted by two subsidiaries of Hindalco, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers. Participants will have the unique opportunity to visit the following modern industrial facilities:
Places are limited to 50 participants for each field trip. Seats have been prebooked on INDIGO commercial flights. Reservations will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Registration and Visa Support
Registration is Now Open!
To register, please use ConfTool https://www.conftool.net/icsoba2026/ which is customized for the ICSOBA 2026 Conference.
Conference fee structure | up to 30/08 | 31/08 - 04/10 | 05/10 - 01/11 | 02/11 - 15/11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conference | ||||
| Speaker (need to register before 28/09) | 1250 US$ | 1250 US$ | n/a | n/a |
| Corporate Speaker | 1125 US$ | 1125 US$ | n/a | n/a |
| Participant | 1250 US$ | 1450 US$ | 1800 US$ | 2200 US$ |
| Corporate participant | 1125 US$ | 1300 US$ | 1650 US$ | 2000 US$ |
| Student, Retired | 450 US$ | 450 US$ | 600 US$ | 800 US$ |
| Academics | 750 US$ | 750 US$ | 950 US$ | 1150 US$ |
| Exhibitor participant | 1125 US$ | 1300 US$ | 1650 US$ | 2000 US$ |
| Exhibitor only | 750 US$ | 750 US$ | 950 US$ | 1150 US$ |
Optional Events | ||||
| Tue 17/11 social event | 50 US$ | 50 US$ | 50 US$ | 50 US$ |
| Wed 18/11 social event | 50 US$ | 50 US$ | 50 US$ | 50 US$ |
Field trips | ||||
| Refinery visit return trip | 300 US$ | 300 US$ | 300 US$ | 400 US$ |
| Smelter visit return trip | 250 US$ | 250 US$ | 250 US$ | 350 US$ |
Refund policy | ||||
| Refund | Full refund less 50$ administrative fees* | 25% refund | ||
| Registration automatic cancellation | 30/08 | 04/10 | 14/10 | 31/10 |
* One week before these dates, all registered participants who have not paid their registration fee (on Conftool) will receive an email informing them that, to keep their rate, their payment must be received by return. On these dates, and unless a specific agreement is reached with ICSOBA management, their registration will be automatically cancelled, and they will have to re-register at the rate of the day.
Payment policy:
• ICSOBA is expecting all participants to pay the conference fee when they register through the provided online payment option within ConfTool.
• If the registration fee is not paid at the corresponding period (Early bird, Regular, Late, Last minute) end date, registration for the conference will be automatically cancelled, unless a special agreement with the organizers is made.
• Participants will receive a reminder of this open payment one week before the corresponding deadline.
Refund policy:
ICSOBA understands there could be circumstances when a participant who has paid his/her conference fee must cancel his/her conference participation. To be consistent with ICSOBA’s encouragement to early registration, an enhanced refund policy has been defined:
• A cancellation received by ICSOBA (info@icsoba.org) more than two weeks before the opening date of the conference (i.e. received before October 15, 2026) will lead to a full refund of the total amount paid (conference fee plus optional registration), minus 50 USD processing fee.
• A cancelation received by ICSOBA (info@icsoba.org) after October 15, 2026 will lead to 25 % refund of conference fee paid.
• A cancellation/change received by ICSOBA after 31 October 2026 will not be refunded.
• Please note that all optional items (social events and field trips) are non-refundable.
This cancellation policy applies for registration paid through the Stripe system embedded in the conference management system (Conftool). For payment made outside this system (for example company group booking), agreement with ICSOBA management must be sought before any cancellation/change.
Visa Support and Invitation
Please check if a visa is needed for your trip to India. There is the possibility of an ETA E-Conference visa to enter India for the conference. In case you need this ETA visa, please select this option when registering in ConfTool.
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 Hindalco as the Host Sponsor for this year’s conference. Together, ICSOBA and Hindalco warmly invite bauxite, alumina, and aluminium producers, as well as industry partners from China and around the world, to participate in ICSOBA 2026 in Bengaluru and become conference sponsors.
ICSOBA, known as “The Technology Conference of the Aluminium Industry, for the Aluminium Industry,” offers a unique opportunity for your company to enhance its visibility among primary aluminium decision-makers and key technologists.
Please consult the Sponsors Fees and Benefit document which details the various sponsorship options, including on-site benefits and enhanced visibility through the ICSOBA conference application, used by every participant.
If you are willing to support ICSOBA activities and to showcase your Company at ICSOBA 2026, feel free to contact claude.vanvoren@icsoba.org for any further information.
Keep abreast of the latest ICSOBA news!
Connect to ICSOBA newsroom!
ICSOBA 2026 President
Mr. Satish Pai
Managing Director of Hindalco Industries
Short BioIt is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 44th international ICSOBA Conference. I extend a warm greeting to each of you and my sincere thanks for being part of this unique technical community.
Bengaluru is a fitting destination this year – this city is home to some of India’s most respected educational and research institutions and is a global powerhouse of science and engineering research.
We often call aluminium the material of the future and it is important for the industry to continue to advance salients aspects such as decarbonisation, energy efficiency, safety and circularity across the value chain. We look forward to insights in these areas in ICSOBA 2026.
My hope for ICSOBA 2026 is that we leave with sharper solutions, stronger partnerships and renewed momentum. I hope that the week sparks learning for plants and future pilots, encourages new collaborations between industry and academia and strengthens the collective confidence that we can together decarbonise, improve energy efficiency and build more circular aluminium value chain.
I wish you a rewarding and memorable week in Bengaluru.
Mr. Satish Pai
Managing Director of Hindalco Industries
Biography
Satish Pai joined Hindalco Industries in 2013 and has been Managing Director since 2016. In his role as MD, he also oversees the operations of Hindalco subsidiary Novelis Inc., the world’s largest aluminium rolling and recycling company. Prior to joining Aditya Birla Group, Satish worked for 28 years with Schlumberger. Based out of Paris, he was responsible for Schlumberger operations globally.
He has charted a transformational path for the company from its traditional metals manufacturing role to being a provider of high value engineered solutions in aluminium, copper and specialty alumina.
Mr Pai has served in key industry forum roles and currently serves as Director on the boards of Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt. Ltd., and BP p.l.c.
About the Host Sponsor
Hindalco.
An industry leader in aluminium and copper, Hindalco Industries Limited is the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group. Through its subsidiary Novelis, Hindalco is the global leader in flat rolled products and the world’s largest recycler of aluminium.
With operations across 10 countries and 48 manufacturing locations, Hindalco is a fully integrated player — from mining to finished products.
In India, Hindalco operates 5 captive power plants for a total of 3.2 GW, produces 1.35 Mt / year of primary aluminium in 4 smelters and 3.0 Mt / year of alumina in 4 refineries. In 2024, Hindalco announced expanding its upstream operations with expansions at the Aditya and Mahan aluminium smelters, and a new greenfield alumina refinery.
In the Specialty Alumina space, Hindalco ranks among the global top three, offering a differentiated portfolio of high-margin, high-growth products. Together, these businesses span the entire value chain, delivering a suite of sustainable, high-performance solutions across industries.
Hindalco is also India’s largest copper producer, serving more than half the country’s copper requirements. Its copper facility in Gujarat, India, comprises a world-class copper smelter and refinery complex, downstream facilities, and a captive jetty.
Hindalco has been ranked the world’s most sustainable aluminium company in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for six consecutive years – 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
