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Post release of ICSOBA-2012, the 19th International Symposium in Belém, Brazil
The 19th Symposium of ICSOBA, held from October, 29 until 2nd November, in Belém, the capital of Pará state in the North of Brazil, attracted more than 300 delegates, about 50% Brazilians and the remainder from 36 countries, including Australia & New Zealand, China, Vietnam, India, the Gulf region, Russia, Europe, Africa, the America’s and Caribbean.
The speaker program comprised over 100 lectures in three parallel programs for Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium and in joint sessions with topics of general interest. Keynote speakers at the joint opening session were Dr. Fernando Simões Henriques, Operations Director of Norsk Hydro Brazil on Hydro’s presence in Brazil, Mr. Ayrton Filleti of the Brazilian Aluminum Association on the Brazilian aluminium industry, Prof. Li Wangxing of CHALCO’s Zhengzhou Research Institute on the development and future of the bauxite, alumina and aluminium industry in China and Mr. Kelly Driscol of CRU on developments in the global bauxite, alumina and aluminium industry.
The Bauxite program was chaired by Prof Arthur P. Chaves of São Paulo State University and Mr David Sugden, and covered the sessions Guyana Shield Bauxites, Bauxite Mining, Application of Analytical Techniques, Bauxite Beneficiation and Hydraulic Transport of Bauxite.
The Alumina program, chaired by Mr. Leslie Leibenguth of RTA and Mr. Wagner Brancalhoni of Hatch, focused on Energy efficiency, Bayer processing, Alumina from non-bauxitic ores, Bauxite residue storage and the Bauxite residue utilization. In the Aluminium program, Mr. Michel Reverdy of Dubal and Mr. Marc Dupuis of STAS, chaired the sessions on Smelter development, Söderberg technology, Equipment development for smelters, Pot operation and Carbon technology.
The joint closing session on Alumina Supply Developments provided some answers on the issue raised in the opening keynotes of the expected gap between alumina demand and alumina production. The session was chaired by Mr. Roelof Den Hond and had four presentations on future alumina supply, one of Dubal on the Prospects and challenges for developing greenfield alumina refineries outside China, two about greenfield projects in the North of Brazil by Votorantim and Hydro and one about the Development of Vietnam's bauxite, alumina and aluminium industry.
During the breaks one could visit the exhibition tables in the central area of 13 technology suppliers, and during the joint meals there was ample time to meet old and new colleagues or enjoy the Brazilian Samba show in the tropical evening.
The symposium provided opportunities to visit Paragominas mine, Alunorte, the World largest alumina refinery, Albras smelter, and CAP project site.
The following sponsors contributed to the realization of the event:
Hydro as host sponsor,
Diemme Filtration, Hatch, Jingjin Filter press, Nalco and Outotec as gold sponsors,
Aker Solutions, Albras, Andritz, Bokela, Boskalis, Bruker, Cargotec, Cytec, Feluwa, FLSmidth, Newtime, Orbite, PANalytical, Pimenta de Ávila Consultoria, Progen, Rio Tinto Alcan, SNF Floerger, Votorantim Metais, Weir as silver sponsors.