This Alumina Technology Roadmap represents a
unique global partnership, a partnership T that may well signal the future of the aluminium industry. This
roadmap partnership has involved the collaborative efforts
of industry groups from the major international companies
operating on four continents, government representatives
from both the United States and Australia, and
representatives from the academic community and
industry associations (The Aluminum Association and the
Australian Aluminium Council). All were drawn together
under the auspices of AMIRA International, the mineral
industry research association, to consider and develop
technology plans for the alumina industry through the year
2020. Given the globalization of the aluminium industry,
and the fact that Australia is by far the largest producer
and exporter of alumina, it is most appropriate that the
input for this Alumina Technology Roadmap was developed
at a workshop in Fremantle, Western Australia in May
2001.
The alumina industry is facing similar issues as most other
global commodity producers: social and environmental
reporting, the challenge of sustainable operations, the
image of a ‘green’ industry, and competition from
substitute materials. Individually each producer is
addressing these challenges. However, it is now evident
that some challenges are best dealt with by an industry
sector above and beyond the direct competitive
environment. One key outcome of a technology roadmap is
identifying these collaborative areas and the steps that
must be taken to achieve the industry-wide goals.