With more than half the bauxite reserves of the country and massive presence of Nalco, Hindalco and Vedanta, Odisha is soon going to be the aluminium capital of India,” said Union Mines Secretary Balvinder Kumar here on Thursday.
He was addressing the inaugural session of the national seminar on ‘Aluminium: The Strategic Metal’, organised by the Aluminium Association of India (AAI). He expressed his happiness that despite varying business interests, aluminium majors, primary producers and secondary producers have gathered under the AAI umbrella to collectively counter the market downturn in the aluminium sector.
Kumar assured that an Aluminium Development Council, as suggested by AAI president and Nalco CMD Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, would be set up soon to strengthen the aluminium industry of the country.
He further informed that on the AAI’s recommendation, the Ministry of Mines has asked the Railway Ministry to charge the freight of bauxite at par with limestone and include alumina in the nonmetal segment.
Besides, Kumar complimented the Nalco for accepting the Government of India’s suggestion to take up the Jagannath Temple in Puri under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
He urged other aluminium players to adopt villages under the open-defecation-free programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Odisha Steel & Mines Principal Secretary RK Sharma said there is a vast scope for the aluminium industry in India in general and in Odisha in particular.
It may be noted that the seminar is a precursor to International Conference on Aluminium (INCAl 2017), which will be held in Bhubaneswar next February.
Dr Chand said that while the aluminium industry across the globe is passing through sluggishness, the AAI is taking steps to strengthen the sector through various initiatives. He stressed on cost reduction, making domestic market more vibrant and enhancing the aluminium market through introduction of various value-added and high-end products.
In the technical session, Vedanta CEO (Aluminium Business) Abhijit Pati spoke about developing the ancillary and downstream industry through aluminium parks and strategic business models.
Hindalco Deputy Managing Director Satish Pai outlined the aluminium outlook, particularly in the wake of dumping of surplus aluminium by China. Among others, AAI vice-president NR Mohanty and general secretary Prof KSS Murthy were present.