5.03.2007 - 08:47am ET

(CSRwire) MONTREAL -May 3, 2007 - Jacynthe Côté, Senior Vice President of Alcan Inc. and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company's Bauxite and Alumina group (B&A) called on the mining industry today to leverage sustainability to advance competitive advantage during her luncheon remarks to the 2007 Canadian Institute of Mining and Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (CIM).

"At Alcan, we are convinced that there is an increasingly close relationship between the protection of the environment, socio-economic progress and competitive advantage," said Jacynthe Côté. "Because we are competing for finite resources in a world that is increasingly focussed on sustainability, we are determined to invest in a manner that not only strengthens our competitiveness but also produces maximum benefit for local communities," continued Côté.

In her address, Ms. Côté focussed on both the environmental and social components of sustainability by looking at key global issues, connecting them to Alcan's business and demonstrating how the Company is tackling these issues head-on.

Ms. Côté outlined some of Alcan's efforts in the areas of:

- Climate change, where Alcan is already actively developing and implementing solutions through its leading technologies, processes and innovative products;

- Bauxite residue management, where Alcan is an industry leader and exploring innovative ways to reduce its footprint;

- Natural resource stewardship, where Alcan's solid track record of sustainability management from construction through to eventual closure has opened the door to some of the world's most attractive growth opportunities; and

- Stakeholder engagement, where B&A has recently launched a new framework that matches commitment with resources and action.

Referring to the new multi-stakeholder engagement framework, Ms. Côté said "the framework entails engaging, partnering and making a difference to those most in need simply by aligning B&A's business objectives with the
development objectives of its operating communities." "By partnering with non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and other stakeholders, Alcan can play an important role in their capacity to deliver value and support long-term community development, just as these stakeholders can play an important role in Alcan's success," continued Côté.

As an example of partnering, Ms. Côté made reference to the Company's three-year collaboration with NGO's in Ghana, which supports the country in reaching its Millennium Development Goals through actions related to water, health and education.

In closing, Ms. Côté said "Alcan believes that some of today's risks are tomorrow's business opportunities." "Accordingly, the Company is striving to be ahead of the game in sustainability and to help create vigorous and proud communities that will thrive long after we're gone," continued Côté. "I invite you to identify and tackle those sustainability challenges from which you would gain the greatest competitive advantage and that you would be best equipped to engage," concluded Côté.

The CIM 2007 Conference and Exhibition is the foremost event for the Canadian minerals industry, where industry leaders and professionals come together to network and share knowledge. The conference theme, Energy and Mines, underpins one of the major challenges the minerals industry faces today. Founded in 1898, the CIM is the leading technical society of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals, materials and energy industries with over 12,000 national members.

Alcan Bauxite and Alumina is a recognized leader and supplier of alumina refinery technology and comprises Alcan's worldwide activities related to bauxite mining and refining into smelter-grade and specialty aluminas. The Group employs approximately 4,700 people and owns and/or operates five bauxite mines and deposits in four countries, five smelter-grade alumina plants in four countries and six specialty alumina plants in three countries.

Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) is a leading global materials company, delivering high quality products and services worldwide. With world-class technology and operations in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary metal smelting, power generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered solutions as well as flexible and specialty packaging, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs. Alcan is represented by 68,000 employees, including its joint-ventures, in 61 countries and regions, and posted revenues of US$23.6 billion in 2006. The Company has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index consecutively since 2003. For more information, please visit: www.alcan.com.

For more information, including a copy of Ms. Côté's complete remarks, please visit the "speeches" portion of Alcan's Media section at www.alcan.com

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