The 13th Aluminum Raw Materials Summit organized by Asian Metal closed in success on the afternoon of May 19, 2023. The Summit was sponsored by Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC), Tianshan Aluminum Group Holdings Co., Wansa Group Commodities (WGC) UK Ltd., Winning International Group Co. and Xiamen Xiangyu Aluwin Co..
Over 300 delegates coming from more than ten countries attended the Summit, including China, Guinea, Ghana, Australia, Malaysia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, India, UAE, UK, US, Canada, Switzerland, France and Indonesia, etc. Those delegates consist of bauxite producers, traders and service providers of logistics, inspection, equipment and financing, as well as alumina producers, traders and primary aluminum producers, etc..
At 9am of May 19, Mr. Ron Knapp, Adviser, Office of the Chairman, China Hongqiao Group Limited (HK) started with the opening speech. He pointed out that it was the first aluminum chain summit he attended after the pandemic and summarized the big change on the aluminum market structure over the past two years with the bauxite supply in particular. Ms. Evita Sanda, Director of Indonesia Investment Promotion Center, Beijing, Ministry of Investment/BKPM made a presentation on the investment policy and opportunities in Indonesia, outlining the direct investment from China while introducing potential investment projects of metals like aluminum and nickel. At 10am, Mr. Ron delivered a brilliant speech towards the global bauxite supply change and Chinese demand by summarizing Chinese alumina production capacity and the demand for imported bauxite as well as the global supply change. Mr. Jingkun Fang, Sales Manager of Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC) presented Ghana bauxite project operation status and the development strategy in the near future. Mr. Jiankang Liu, Deputy General Manager of Jingxi Tiangui Aluminum Co. made a report on the alumina growth advantages in Guangxi by explaining imported bauxite application. Mr. Zhaowei Zhang, General Manager, Shandong Port International Development Group Co. introduced the operating management and supply chain service in Guinea by Shandong Port. As the last speaker in the morning, Mr. Craig Andrew Coughlan, Chairman, Wansa Group Commodities (WGC) UK Ltd. introduced the main business of Wansa Group as well as the bauxite operation and development plan of Alufer Mining project in Guinea..
In the afternoon, Ms. Bessy Wang, General Manager, Cargill Shipping (China), Cargill Investments (China) Ltd. analyzed the freight charge movement by different types of bulk cargo vessels and the outlook for demand growth while summarizing the carbon emission action in the shipping industry. Ms. Rong Wang, Director Assistant & Chief Researcher, Guotai Junan Futures Co. made an address surrounding the Chinese primary aluminum production capacity resettlement and the hydro-power supply in southwest China as well as the alumina market. Mr. Simon Wensley, CEO & Managing Director, Metro Mining Limited made a speech on the Australian bauxite reserves by locations and the shipping advantage. Mr. Yves Occello, CEO, AMBER Development delivered a report on carbon emission in the aluminum industry and the technology solutions in processing low grade bauxite. Finally, Mr. Ashok Nandi, President, International Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium Society (IBAAS) introduced the alumina and aluminum production capacities by locations and major companies in India.
