Aluminium is a new industry in Qatar, and the media have so far been preoccupied with the actual construction project, and not as interested in the characteristics and applications of aluminium. In order to improve understanding of aluminium, Hydro and Qatalum arranged a seminar for students and academic staff at the university.
Headmaster Sheika Al Mesned at Qatar University took an active role in the debate after the three speeches, and showed great interest in the recycling of aluminium and not least the future possibilities for cooperation between this industry and the university.
Cooperation
Jan Arve Haugan, head of technology development in Hydro, reported that Hydro is considering to establish cooperation with Qatar Science and Technology Park, with regard to setting up a research and technology centre.
In addition he informed the participants that Hydro is interested in providing scholarships for two students from Qatar for a Masters program at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim from the autumn of 2008.
Hydro already cooperates closely with universities in Norway, New Zealand, Germany, Slovakia and USA. With Qatalum it would be natural to start a similar cooperation in Qatar, Haugan said.
Modern solutions
Modern and intelligent solutions may reduce energy consumption in buildings in Qatar by 46 percent. In addition, solar cells can be incorporated into the facades, to make the buildings self-sufficient with regard to energy.
Moss emphasized that it is important to consider the entire lifecycle of a product.
“If you assess the energy consumption and climate effects from the production of primary metal alone, you could draw the wrong conclusions and make the wrong decisions,” he said.
Arvid Moss, head of strategy development in Hydro, gave an introduction on aluminium in cars, while Werner Jäger, head of technology development in Hydro Building Systems, informed those present about the use of aluminium in buildings.
Published: November 20, 2007