In the keynote presentation, Ms Cote told delegates at the 15th Arabal conference, held in Muscat, Oman, the company was streamlining six of its Australian and New Zealand assets while seven of its European businesses were under threat.
The decision to divest some of its assets are part of a plan for growth which would see the company focus on its core activities.
Ms Cote said these core activities included its bauxite and alumina assets.
The company will expand some of these assets including doubling the tonnage capacity at its Yarwun alumina refinery, Queensland, Australia, expanding its Weipa bauxite mine, Quensland to 50Mt/y, which Ms Cote said would ensure better quality bauxite for China.
In addition there will be a $500M expansion at its Isal, Iceland site where it would add a modern billet plant.
Its Canadian sites would also benefit, with its Kitimat, British Columbia smelter reaching the last stage of expansion to 450kt, powered exclusively by hydropower while the Alouette smelter in Quebec will receive a 500MW power boost, increasing the smelter’s capacity to 930kt.
She added RTA was looking to increase its production in Oman, Malaysia and Africa, with its Sohar smelter, Oman likely to expand after 2014.
Arabal is the annual gathering of the aluminium smelters of the Arab World but the region’s growing strength in the industry means that global industry leaders attend to debate and discuss the challenges facing the industry. This year the event is hosted by Oman-based Sohar Aluminium for the first time.
For a full review of the Arabal conference please see the Jan/Feb 2012 edition of Aluminium International Today.