DOHA: The 16th ARABAL Conference kicked off yesterday, and the delegates from around the world were taken on two separate tours: a virtual tour through a storied corner of the City of London – the London Metal Exchange – as well as a physical tour of the Qatalum plant at Mesaieed Industrial City.
The day began with a workshop presentation in front of 200 ARABAL delegates by Martin Abbott – CEO of the London Metal Exchange (LME). However, the conference is scheduled to formally begin today with the opening speech by Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada.
Abbott highlighted the mechanisms and techniques used in the LME, gave his review on market reality and presented market analysis from a historical point of view as well as future prospects.
As well as detailing the crucial hedging role the LME pays, he discussed controversies surrounding aluminium storage and he updated delegates on the current ownership status of the LME.
After the LME workshop, ARABAL delegates were taken to Mesaieed Industrial City, the smelter of Qatalum – the host of ARABAL 2012.
During the evening, delegates attended a welcome reception at the Grand Hyatt, sponsored by Qatar Petroleum, and at which a welcome speech was given by Ibrahim J Fakhri, Qatalum Communications Manager.
Today the event will witness panel discussions on ‘the Future Prospects of the Aluminium Industry in the GCC’, ‘the Economic Impacts of the Arab Spring’; ‘The Future Prospects of Expanding Local Use and Creating Local Demand’; and presentations on ‘Reshaping the World Aluminium Balance’ and ‘Power Plant - Challenges, Difficulties and Experiences’.
The Peninsula
