With the acquisition of the extensive bauxite and alumina businesses in Brazil at the beginning of the year, Hydro is now more involved with the exploration and production part of the aluminum business and the application for ICMM membership reflects this transformation.

“Hydro's mission is to create a more viable society, by developing natural resources and products in an innovative and efficient way, which is the basis of our 105 years of history”, says President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg . & nbsp;

“Hydro's entry into the bauxite business in Brazil provides us with new opportunities and challenges. I hope that ICMM will be an excellent platform to share and learn about how to work with these challenges and to ensure that our industry moves forward in a sustainable and responsible manner. I look forward to our participation in this very important entity. ”

Brandtzæg was welcomed by the ICMM Board of Executive Directors on Wednesday, along with Areva, the world's largest uranium miner.

"We are delighted that Areva and Hydro will join ICMM," said Richard Adkerson, Executive Director of Freeport-McMoRan and President of ICMM. “This clearly demonstrates not only the commitment of these companies to the principles of sustainability, but also the growing recognition of the role of ICMM in helping companies to solve these challenges.”

ICMM was founded in 2001, as a result of the Global Mining Initiative (GMI, in English), being a project focused on sustainability issues related to the metals and mining industry. ICMM's vision is “a sustainable metals, minerals and mining industry that is widely recognized as essential to modern life and an indispensable contributor to sustainable development”.

ICMM's main focus is to raise the future standard of operations in the metal and mining industry, incorporating emerging global issues such as responsible sourcing, materials management, community development, wealth distribution, climate change and biodiversity.

By including Areva and Hydro, ICMM has 20 member companies from the metals and mining industry. Among the leading aluminum companies in the west are Rio Tinto Alcan, BHP Billiton and Vale. In addition, there are 30 member organizations, including IAI, EAA and EITI.

Hydro had to go through a rigorous request and audit process to ensure that the company met ICMM standards.

ICMM demands from its members adherence and accountability regarding 10 governing principles related to the commitment to sustainable development. Hydro's governing principles in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility and Health (CSR) and Health, Safety and Environment (SSM) are in accordance with such requirements, concluded the entity.