As the Qatalum project begins the transition from construction to production, scheduled to start in December 2009, recruiting of employees to run the plant is at the top of the agenda.

Between 200 and 260 employees for the operational organization are expected to be on board by the end of January, says Anders Stenhagen, human resources manager of Qatalum.

That figure is forecast to rise to around 570 in June and to around 1,150 by the end of the first quarter of 2010. The positions include local operator positions, supervisors, managers and experts recruited from Hydro and elsewhere in the aluminium industry.

Interest has been great among applicants, Stenhagen says. The company has received more than 10,000 online applications via the vacant position system.

To date, Qatalum human resources personnel have conducted nearly 1,200 face-to-face interviews and another 1,000 by telephone.

There will be about 1,200 employees at the plant when in full production.

• For vacant positions posted on the Qatalum website,
  please see link in the right-hand column