Tomago Aluminium has appointed Jérôme Dozol as its Chief Executive Officer and General Manager to steer it into its fifth decade and position it for a long and successful continued operation.
Jérôme’s career includes more than 18 years with Rio Tinto, one of Tomago Aluminium’s owners. His most recent role as general manager of a copper smelter and refinery in Salt Lake City, Utah, was focussed on driving the efficiency of that complex operation. He has significant aluminium industry experience having worked at the Kitimat, Dunkerque and St Jean de Maurienne smelters in Canada.
Jérôme is relocating to Newcastle from the United States with his wife and three children. He said he is excited to work for Tomago Aluminium because it is recognised globally as one of the world’s leading aluminium smelters.
“I am passionate about extending the life of industrial assets and tackling climate change,” Jérôme said.
“Tomago Aluminium has a repowering plan that could see it led the way in the renewable energy space,” he said.
“Our plan to secure our future energy needs aims to have 50 per cent of our power supply from renewables by 2030 and to be totally powered by renewable energy by 2035.
“Our renewable investments will make a significant contribution to the Hunter region’s move to becoming a centre for renewable energy.” Jérôme said.
He said, during its 40 years of operation, Tomago Aluminium has grown to become Australia’s largest aluminium smelter, a significant local employer and contributor to the local and national economy and the Hunter community.
“Forecasts for aluminium demand and prices are positive. Our management team is working with our workforce to ensure it is engaged, sustainable and productive, with our sights firmly set on operating beyond 2040.” Jérôme said.
The smelter has operated non-stop since opening in September 1983. From an initial 240,000 tonnes of capacity, it now produces around 600,000 tonnes or 37 per cent of Australia’s primary aluminium annually.
Aluminium is Australia’s fifth-largest export commodity. Around 90 per cent of Tomago Aluminium’s product is exported to the Asia Pacific. Of the $2.2 billion the smelter contributes to the Australian economy annually, $800,000 is spent in the Hunter. It directly employs more than 1,000 people and indirectly supports more than 5,000 contractors, suppliers and their families.
Tomago Aluminium is an independently managed joint venture between Rio Tinto, Gove Aluminium Finance and Norsk Hydro.
IMAGE | Jérôme Dozol
