17/09/2014 00:53 AST
As part of efforts at developing a knowledge hub on aluminium in Qatar, Qatalum and partners hosted a seminar to facilitate “cross pollination” and “transfer of ideas” between the industry and academia.
The objective was to inspire and engage students to participate in research with the ultimate goal for them to become aluminium experts in their own right. The seminar entitled “Aluminium value and knowledge creation” yesterday highlighted technological advances and research in the aluminium electrolysis process.
The seminar was hosted by Hydro Aluminium, Qatalum and Qatar University. Additionally, researchers from the Centre of Advance Materials, Qatar University, undergraduate and graduate students from the same University and also from Texas A&M at Qatar presented their work related to aluminium.
The keynote address was given by reduction manager Han Petter Lange who stressed on Qatalum’s “above capacity” production figure of more than 600,000 tonnes of premium aluminium a year.
Lange credited this to Qatalum’s creation of a culture of continuous improvement that has led to a significant increase in efficiency and a lowering of its business costs, now rated 4th amongst all smelters in the world by CRU, a foremost market intelligence research organisation, and is a remarkable improvement from 22nd place in 2012.
Lange echoed Qatalum Deputy CEO, Khalid Laram’s sentiments and said, “This amazing feat can only be achieved by having competent and excellent personnel to operate this plant and I am very proud of Qatalum’s tremendous progress. To continue this marked increase in efficiency, Qatalum will invest in its local and international workforce and especially within the creation of an aluminium knowledge sphere developed by the academic sector in Qatar.”
Hydro Aluminium along with Qatalum have pledged to spread knowledge and competence of the aluminium sector within Qatar. The technology centre based at QSTP, headed by Dr Chris Devadas has been the catalyst in promoting aluminium research and technology in Qatar.
Dr Devadas said, “We have established a strategic partnership with CAM (Centre for Advanced Materials) at Qatar University to promote aluminium in Qatar and the GCC. The partnership aims to give participants a hands-on experience to aluminium smelter operations, process optimisation, environmental controls, recycling, and to the behavioural performance of aluminium as an end use product.
We believe this will enable them to be great ambassadors and employees within the aluminium industry, a metal with endless possibilities”.The technology centre has several projects in its research portfolio. The environment project in particular, demonstrated the inherent cooperation between institutions that Qatalum is eager to support.
The team included Professor Haarberg, the Qatalum/Hydro Chair at Qatar University, Dr Are Dyroy of Hydro, other scientists from Hydro and SINTEF (The Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research, Norway), besides Lange and several other process engineers and students.
The strategy of combining resources was to collectively research methods on improving the aluminium electrolysis process by identifying the causes for variability leading to inefficiencies and subsequently reducing their impact. “Both Qatar University and the TAMU students teamed-up for the project and gained knowledge and experience working at the Qatalum smelter while conducting structured research resulting in statistically quantifiable results.
‘Highlights of the projects run by the technology centre have been committed student involvement, aptitude towards attaining quality results through teamwork and the professionalism shown within Qatalum,’ concluded Chris Devadas.
Gulf Times
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