Hyderabad|India|December'2011: In an effort to guide the metal industry of the country, particularly the Aluminium industry, on the growth trajectory, the Union Ministry of Mines will shortly announce a ‘Mission Plan’, which will help evolve strategies for the comprehensive development of the minerals and metals sector.

Announcing the ‘Mission Plan’, Mr. Vishwapati Trivedi, Secretary, Union Ministry of Mines, who delivered the inaugural address of the 6th International Conference on Aluminium (INCAL 2011) in Hyderabad, said the ‘Mission Plan’ was under advanced stage of deliberations with the stakeholders.

“The Mission Plan will help the government evolve a National Policy for guidance of all stakeholders to enable sustained and well-planned growth of Indian Aluminium and related industries. I am happy to note that the Aluminium Association of India has come out with a draft version of the Mission Plan, which has been taken up for improvement by the Union Ministry,” Mr. Trivedi added.

The ‘Mission Plan’ will address several key objectives – enhance per person Aluminium consumption to match consumption in peer developing countries, such as China and Brazil. “This will also enable India to beneficially exploit the nature resources of Bauxite and coal available in plentiful besides the well-trained pool of human resources,” Mr. Trivedi pointed out.

In addition to the ‘Mission Plan’, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), in association with the Aluminium Association of India (AAI), is preparing the ‘Technology Roadmap for Indian Aluminium Industry.’

“This Technology Roadmap will guide the industry in adopting appropriate technologies to remain competitive in the global market. Also, updating the technology in this energy intensive industry is gaining due attention,” Mr. Trivedi asserted.

The DST has also taken up projects aimed at reducing the weight of the automobiles in order to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, and vehicular emissions.

“I am happy to note that we have made rapid strides in this regard. There is now an Aluminium intensive bus for efficient and safer solution for a bus body. The National Aluminium Company (NALCO) has developed the prototype of a rail wagon with Aluminium body. These ventures will help India achieve its commitment to reduce emissions by 20 per cent to 25 per cent by 2020,” Mr. Trivedi said.

He added that the Ministry of Mines would support the AAI in its initiatives to elevate the nation to a global player. “It is the firm belief of the government that the growth of the Aluminium value chain in India will not only benefit the incumbents, but the communities at large by generating jobs and revenue,” Mr. Trivedi noted.

INCAL 2011, organized by the AAI, will showcase the latest technologies and advancements relating to the Aluminium industry and provide a unique platform for the Indian Aluminium sector to interact with top experts from all over the world apart from exploring investment opportunities.

Top experts from the USA, UK, China, France, Switzerland, Germany, UAE, Sweden, Netherlands, Canada, and a host of other countries will present their papers on the latest technologies and challenges relating to Aluminum industry.

The Aluminium Association of India was founded in 1981 and supported by various ministries of the government. It represents the entire spectrum of the aluminium industry, producers, downstream manufacturers, equipment suppliers, technologists, metallurgists, and R&D organizations. It is a member of the International Body of Aluminium Associations.

-Dec 2011