Programs and Events

Dr Anupam Agnihotri Director JNARDDC hoisting the tricolor on 78th Independence Day. Remembering the sacrifice of our freedom fighters and propagating the goal of a विकसित JNARDDC and विकसित भारत. जय हिन्द.

International Conference on Non-ferrous Metals; ICNFM-2024 : 12-13 July 2024, Bhubaneshwar The 28th edition of the International Conference on Non-ferrous metals was held at Hotel Swosti Premium, Bhubaneswar on July 12-13,2024. It was organized by Corporate Monitor jointly with JNARDDC, Nagpur and CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar. Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, Director, CSIR-IMMT at Bhubaneswar welcomed the gathering while Dr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC highlighted the significance of the annual non-ferrous metal oriented meet with which JNARDDC is closely associated for almost a decade while hosting it in Nagpur in 2022.
Chief Guest, Shri Hemant Sharma, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries, Government of Odisha sincerely expressed his appreciation of the efforts by the organizing team in hosting the event in Odisha thus providing an opportunity to the newly formed state government for planning industrial investments in the State. Other Guests of Honour included, Shri Sunil Gupta, CEO, Vedanta , Jharsuguda, Shri Amit Raj, Director(technical), MECON and Shri Kailash Pandey , Business Head- Mining and Cluster Head- Sambalpur in Odisha.
The Conference was attended by more than 180 delegates from leading corporate and R & D organizations like NALCO, Hindalco, Vedanta, Balco, Hindalco , Sterlite Copper, Birla Copper, Hindustan Zinc, Mecon, M N Dastur & Co, JNARDDC, CSIR-NML, CSIR-IMMT, Elmech, ERC Technology, Uniseven, among others.
JNARDDC scientists and staff presented five papers in the seminar. The 2-day Conference had an overall 4 theme papers, 9 International and sponsored presentations

Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy and Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey handed over project sanction letters for total amount of ₹ 12.37 Crores to ten startups / MSMEs under the S&T PRISM scheme. It’s a major initiative of the Ministry of Mines to promote Startups, MSMEs and Individual Innovators for projects up to 2 years duration, which have direct bearing on mineral and metal sector, applied and sustainable aspect of mining, metallurgy and industrial applications. The grant will enable them to graduate to a level where they will be able to raise investments from angel/Venture Capitalist or they will reach a position to seek loans from commercial banks/financial institutions. The funding is positioned to act as a bridge between development and commercialization of innovative technologies/products/services in a relatively hassle free manner. JNARDDC played the pivotal role as the implementing agency by evaluating the proposals to the final award of the project. Recognizing the paramount importance of safety, economy, speed and the efficiency in extraction of mineral resources and in its conversion into viable economic alloys and metals, Ministry of Mines, Government of India has been funding research and development projects (R&D projects) of many research institutions in mining and metallurgy sector since 1978. Under the R&D scheme, the Hon’ble Minister awarded 24 research projects totaling to ₹11.26 Cr to premier R&D institutions such as IITs, IISc, NITs, ISM, CSIR Labs, JNARDDC etc. The event was held at scope convention Centre, CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi in the august presence of Shri V L Kantha Rao, Secretary (Mines), Shri Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary (Mines) and Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC. These proposals target TRL 3 to 7 and the successful outcomes will address the bottlenecks faced by mining sector in the areas of extraction of strategic critical minerals, rare earth elements, metals, geoscience and exploration, decarbonization and will promote circular economy and recycling in non-ferrous segment by effective utilization of industrial waste.

Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, New Delhi (BEE), hosted a pivotal workshop on May 3rd, 2024. The event focused on fostering a circular economy and enhancing resource efficiency within the aluminum and cement sectors, leveraging the utilization of spent pot-lining (SPL) and other waste products generated from aluminum production. Distinguished stakeholders from the aluminum and cement industries, including representatives from the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCCBM), and various Pollution Control Boards, gathered to witness a live demonstration of the "SPL Detoxification and Material Recovery Unit" at the JNARDDC laboratory.
The showcased process successfully addressed the challenge of leachable cyanide in 1st cut SPL through innovative heat treatment techniques. Additionally, the workshop highlighted methodologies for extracting leachable fluoride and sodium, recycling leachate to enhance sodium/caustic concentration, and employing lime treatment to remove fluoride, thus improving the caustic concentration of the final liquor. Mr. Sunil Khandare, Director of BEE, expressed enthusiasm for scaling up the process and establishing a pilot plant near a major smelter in Odisha, with technical support from JNARDDC. Dr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director of JNARDDC, further discussed the potential for treating 2nd cut SPL, emphasizing the center's commitment to sustainable solutions. In-depth discussions on environmental approval procedures with representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Odisha State Pollution Control Board were held, ensuring regulatory compliance and environmental sustainability.
Participants, including industry leaders from BEE, IDAM Infra, Hindalco, Vedanta Limited, Ultratech Cement, My Homes Cement, GCCA, NCCBM, Dalmia Cement Bharat, and Prism Johnson, engaged in a constructive roundtable discussion. The consensus emerged strongly in favor of adopting the showcased technology to promote circular economy principles through SPL waste utilization. The workshop marks a significant milestone in advancing environmental stewardship and sustainable practices within the aluminum and cement industries, signaling a collective commitment towards a greener and more efficient future.

Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, a revered institution known for its pioneering work in the field of aluminum research and development, proudly commemorates a significant milestone in its journey—the 35th Foundation Day on April 16, 2024. Established under the auspices of the Ministry of Mines, JNARDDC stands as a beacon of excellence, driving innovation and advancement in the aluminum industry. With three and a half decades of dedication to research, development, and design, the Center has consistently pushed the boundaries of knowledge and technology, contributing immensely to the growth and sustainability of the mining and metallurgy sectors. As it celebrates this momentous occasion, JNARDDC reaffirms its commitment to excellence, poised to embark on a new chapter of discovery and innovation in service to the nation. Esteemed dignitaries, including Shri Indra Dev Narayan, CMD of MECL, and Shri Pankaj Kumar, General Manager of QC at SECL, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, respectively, adding an aura of distinction to the event. Dr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director of JNARDDC, eloquently showcased the center’s illustrious journey of achievement spanning over the past 34 years, emphasizing its evolving role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly through initiatives like the S&T-PRIMSM program of the Ministry of Mines. Shri Narayan, acknowledging the rich legacy of the Center, expressed optimism for its promising future, while Mr. Kumar highlighted JNARDDC’s preeminent position as the top-performing laboratory for third-party referee coal samples. With the impending surge in workload due to the ambitious targets set by Coal India for the current fiscal year, JNARDDC stands poised to meet and exceed expectations, reaffirming its commitment to excellence and service to the nation.
An enthralling session titled "Mining, Mineral & Recycling Startup Bootcamp: Unveiling the Essence of Entrepreneurship" provided a platform for in-depth exploration into the core principles of startups and entrepreneurship. This captivating event showcased insights and success stories from esteemed experts and visionary entrepreneurs from across the nation, inspiring a new wave of innovation and enterprise. Additionally, a significant milestone was achieved with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI), laying the foundation for collaborative research and development endeavors aimed at driving progress and innovation in the field. The distinguished presenters hailed from diverse corners of the nation, each bringing their unique expertise and insights to the forefront. Among them were Shri Ashwani Kumar Pandey of Cellark Powertech Pvt. Ltd., Cuttack; Shri Ashutosh Kumar, representing Caliche Pvt. Ltd. from Shillong; Dr. Suhas Buddhe, CMD of Biocare India Pvt. Ltd., affiliated with IIM Nagpur; Dr. Sunil Bhat, from the ISRO Space Technology Incubation Centre at VNIT Nagpur; and Brabasuthan Murugesan, representing the Sathyabama Incubation Centre, Chennai. Additionally, the event saw the participation of Shri Ankur Agrawal and Shri Jitendra Chopra from the Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI), Ahmedabad, further enriching the discussions with their invaluable perspectives.
Recognizing excellence in innovation, technical awards were bestowed upon deserving individuals for their outstanding contributions to patents and projects. The esteemed awardees included Mr. R N Chouhan, Dr. U Singh, Dr. P G Bhukte, Dr. Suchita Rai, and Dr. Md Najar, whose exemplary work continues to drive progress in their respective fields. In a moment of acknowledgment and appreciation, Mr. Nitin Warhadpande was honored with the prestigious "Employee of the Year 2023-24" award, recognizing his dedication and exemplary service to the Center. The seamless orchestration of the Center's presentation and technical session was expertly conducted by Shri Immanuel Raju, Jr. Scientist, ensuring a cohesive and insightful experience for all participants. Mrs. R Vishakha, Sr. Admin Officer, skillfully guided the proceedings as the program's compere, lending her charm and professionalism to the event. Finally, a heartfelt vote of thanks was extended by Mr. MT Nimje, HoD (Al Electrolysis), expressing gratitude to all participants and organizers for their contributions to the success of the event.

Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur and Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur enter into Memorandum of Understanding for technical cooperation in the field of scientific research and development. JNARDDC a Centre of excellence of Ministry of Mines has been recently nominated as the implementing agency under PRISM scheme for promoting Startups and MSME and VNIT as an Academic institute of national importance along with all other NITs is shaping the future of the youth of India. This MOU will pave the way for active interaction of students, faculties and researcher to promote scientific and technological advancements in the field of mineral and metal sector including recycling, circular economy, critical minerals etc. The agreement was signed by Dr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC, and Dr Dr. Pramod M. Padole, Director VNIT in presence of the HoDs of both institutions.

Shri Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Union Minister of Coal, Mines & Parliamentary Affairs in presence of Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve, Hon’ble Minister of State for Coal, Mines and Railways handed over the letters of financial grants to selected 5 start-ups working in the Mining sector on 29th Feb 2024 at Pragati Vihar, New Delhi. (1) Ashvini Rare Earth Private Limited, Pune (2) Caliche Private Limited, Shillong (3) Cellark Powertech Private Limited, Bhubaneswar (4) Ln Indtech Services Private Limited, Bhubaneswar & (5) Saru Smelting Private Limited, Meerut. For the first time, S&T(Mines) funding was extended towards start-ups and MSMEs with JNARDDC, Nagpur as the implementing agency in presence of Shri V L Kantha Rao, Secretary (Mines) & Chairman of Apex Committee And Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC Nagpur & Chairman, TEC.

Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC was invited as the Chief Guest by both Raman Science Centre and RTMNU, Nagpur University on the occasion of National Science Day which is celebrated to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian Nobel Laureate and physicist Sir C. V. Raman. He encouraged the young students to pursue science as their career for making their invaluable contribution in the field of scientific research and innovations for the benefit of mankind.

The International Analytical Science Congress 2024, IASC-2024 organized by ISAS and JNARDDC during 22-24 Feb 2024 was inaugurated in VNIT Auditorium by Chief Guest Shri Paradip Mukherjee, CEO, BRIT and Guest of Honour Dr. B. Sarvanan, Director AMD in presence of Dr Raghav Saran, President of ISAS, Dr. A Agnihotri, Director JNARDDC, Prof P M Padole, Director, VNIT and Dr. Rajesh S. Pande, Principal RCOEM. The co-organizers are VNIT, RCOEM, ISRA, BARC, NEERI and TIFR. Scientist and researcher from all over India and international participants from Oman, Singapore etc participated in the interactive discussions covering modern analytical techniques in agriculture, space technology, pesticide and allied, food, food adulteration, geological materials, metallurgy, mining, mineral processing, petroleum refining, chemical and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, forensics, bio-technology, nanotechnology, space technology, miniaturization coupled with automation, robotics and Al. A plethora of awards were given under various categories to motivate women and other young and veteran scientists. Dr Anupam Agnihotri was awarded the prestigious ISAS - Dr Raja Ramanna Award 2023 and Dr U Singh, HoD (Analytical) from JNARDDC was awarded the ISAS Analytical Scientist for the year 2023. Detail awardee list is available on www.jnarddc.gov.in.

Shri Kirit Somaiya a two time Member of Parliament of Mumbai NE and Vice President of BJP visited JNARDDC and interacted with Director, JNARDDC on various issues including sustainable development in metal sector. He also undertook a plantation program.

Dr. Agnihotri, Director JNARDDC was deputed by the Ministry of Mines for attending the Global Conference on Battery Recycling and Critical Minerals organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea at Seoul, South Korea during 30th November to 1st December, 2023. It was followed by an industrial visit. The event provided a great opportunity to share information on the global market status, technologies and various countries policies regarding battery recycling and critical minerals.

The11th IBAAS was organized by IBAAS (International Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium Society) in association with during December 4 - 6, 2023 at Chitnavis Centre, Nagpur, India. This was followed by a post conference visit to the HINDALCO’s aluminium downstream facility of Mouda, near Nagpur on December 7, 2023. The theme of the IBAAS-2023 conference was “Latest Technological Developments in Alumina & Aluminium Production”. This Conference covered the complete value chain of aluminium industry from bauxite evaluation / beneficiation to aluminium downstream products in three days of interactive meet. The conference had series of technical presentations by leading Indian and the foreign experts. About 210 delegates from 95 companies / organizations from all over the world have participated. The experts were mainly arrived from India, Denmark, France, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Sierra Leone and the USA. The conference was inaugurated by Mr. S. Kanakanand, President & Head Manufacturing Centre for Excellence, HINDALCO along with Director JNARDDC, Dr. Anupam Agnihotri, Mr. Yves Ocello, a leading alumina expert of France, and Dr. Amit Chatterjee, Chief Research and Development Officer, VEDANTA. The inaugural function was conducted by Dr. M.K. Roy, Secretary IBAAS and Dr. Ashok Nandi, Convener of the Conference, highlighted the 2 journey, growth and contribution of IBAAS to Aluminium industry. Dr Priyanka Nayar, Scientist of JNARDDC was awarded the first prize for the paper “Preparation of 2-Propanol Aluminium Salt (AIP) as an Intermediate for 4N pure alumina without employing a catalyst”

The 23rd meeting of the Project Evaluation and Review Committee (PERC) was held under the chairpersonship of Mrs. Farida M. Naik, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Mines on 11th December, 2023 at JNARDDC, Nagpur to consider the project proposals received through SATYABHAMA Portal. At the outset, the Chairperson welcomed the participants and on behalf of Ministry of Mines and PERC offered condolences to Late Shri T. C. Rao who was a member of the PERC. A two-minute silence was also observed by the members before start of the Meeting. Out of the 82 project proposals received online the screening committee shortlisted 45 project proposals for consideration of PERC. The thrust areas were realigned by the Ministry to focus on new areas such as recycling, critical minerals and REE. After detailed evaluation the PERC recommended 10 proposals for approval to SSAG.

Incorporated in the year 1956, Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC) has been working with a prime objective of harnessing the mineral wealth through exploration and extraction. OMC has come a long way since its inception and today it stands as one of the largest mining companies in India. With a view to interact with business partners and stakeholder of business and address their concerns & queries OMC organized a mega OMC Business Partners Meet -2023 on 12th Dec 2023 at Bhubaneshwar. Director, JNARDDC and Sr Admin Officer participated in the meet and discussed various avenues for providing sample analysis services to OMC. An long term MOU was also signed with OMC for Rs. 5.12 crores for sample analysis.

खान मंत्रालय की हिंदी सलाहकार समिति की बैठक 13.12.2023 को संसद भवन, नई दिल्ली में माननीय खान मंत्री, श्री प्रल्हाद जोशी जी की अध्यक्षता में आयोजित की गयी। प्रारंभ में श्री संजय लोहिया, अपर सचिव (खान) ने समिति की भूमिका और कार्य के बारे में बताया और राजभाषा विभाग द्वारा निर्धारित ल्क्षोयों के संदर्भ में राजभाषा हिंदी के प्रगामी प्रयोग को बढ़ाने के लिए मंत्रालय द्वारा किए जा रहे प्रयासों पर प्रकाश डाला । हिंदी सलाहकार समिति के निम्नलिखित सदस्य सरकारी कामकाज में हिंदी के प्रयोग को बेहतर बनाने के लिए विभिन्न सुझाव दिये। श्री किशन लाल पंवार, संसद सदस्य (राज्य सभा), डॉ मनोज राजोरिया संसद सदस्य (लोक सभा), श्री गुहाराम अजगल्ले, संसद सदस्य (लोक सभा), श्री नारायण बाबुराव मोरे (सदस्य), डॉ सीताराम के पंवार (सदस्य), श्री रणजीत प्रसाद (सदस्य), डॉ मल्लिकार्जुन एन (सदस्य), डॉ गुणमाला खिमेसरा (सदस्य), प्रो हजारीमयुम सुबादानी देवी (सदस्य). हिंदी सलाहकार समिति की बैठक में संस्था के निदेशक महोदय तथा वरिष्ठ प्रशासनिक अधिकारी उपस्थित थे.

The Director and scientists of JNARDDC attended the 41st ICSOBA-2023 conference being organized by the International Committee for Study for Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium at Dubai, UAE during 05-09 Nov 2023. Dr A Agnihotri, Director delivered the invited lecture on the topic - Sustainability of Indian Aluminium Sector Through Circular Economy. Dr U Singh, Sr Pr Scientist presented technical paper on “Production of Hydrogen using fine waste Aluminium dross: Secondary source of next generation Fuel” and Dr P G Bhukte, Pr Scientist presented technical paper on “A process for development of calcined bauxite from ferruginous bauxite”.

The National Unity Week was celebrated from 25 to 31 October, 2023, as part of the “Meri Maati Mera Desh” campaign which was a unique and innovative way of celebrating the 77th anniversary of India's freedom. On 27th Oct 2023; Dr A Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC, Dr Ishwar Das, Group Head, along with Ms Swati Singh of NRSC- ISRO, Hyderabad, Dr A K Nandi, Emeritus Scientist, Dr Ajay Deshpande and Dr Vivek Kale of MRSAC, Nagpur, Mr S Das, ORSAC, Bhubaneshwar, Mr R Anant Kumar, Assistant Vice President, Sterlite Power Transmission Ltd. And JNARDDC around 65 employees and staff took a pledge under “Meri Mati Mera Desh” program in National Unity Week. It’s a nationwide campaign to send the soil from their native places of historical significance to the Ministry of Culture. On 30th Oct 2023 the employees undertook the pledge to Say no to corruption and pledge their commitment to the Nation. As a culmination event on the 31st October, 2023 in commemoration of the 148th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel – the Iron Man of India Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC administered the unity pledge in English and Hindi and flagged off the 3 km Run from Gate no.1 of JNARDDC Technical Campus which saw a enthusiastic participation of around 85 employees and external contractual staff.

Shri V L Kantha Rao, IAS, Secretary(Mines) reviewed the activities of JNARDDC on 21.10.23. He inaugurated 3 new lab facilities (Fire Assay Lab for precious metals, Microscope & Microhardness tester of Downstream Lab). He participated in plantation program. He looked forward to JNARDDC coming up with an incubation & startup workplan shortly for promoting innovative ideas.

Padma Shri & Padma Bhushan Awardee, Dr V K Saraswat, Former, DG of DRDO and Chief Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister chaired the 5th Joint Steering committee meeting at JNARDDC on NITI Aayog project ‘Technology development for holistic utilization of red mud’ on 4.9.23 with the task force consisting of Dr A Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC (host) and around 18 members from NITI Aayog, aluminum industry (HINDALCO, VEDANTA, NALCO), CSIR Labs (NIML, IMMT) and other R&D institutions such as BARC etc. Dr Sanjay Kumar, NML presented the progress of the project during the last 2 years. Dr. A Aginhotri stated that Ministry of Mines has recently revised the guidelines of Science & Technology, R&D program by providing more focus on critical and rare earth minerals. The details were summarized by Dr Abhilash of NML and BARC member agreed to extend full support for the success of the project. Dr Upendra Singh, Sr Principal Scientist of JNARDDC thanked the members and industry for their invaluable support in undertaking this project. Shri Sarvanabhavan from NITI Aayog looked forward to concrete outcomes of the project which would help the nation’s think tank to address the need of rare earth and critical minerals. Expressing satisfaction on the progress of the project, Dr Saraswat Hon’ble Chairman stated that a pilot plant would be set up by Dec 2024 for extraction of REEs. The other officials present were Dr. Avanish Shrivastava, CSIR-NML; Dr. DK. Singh, BARC; Dr. Vilas Tathavadkar, HINDALCO; Dr. Amit Chatterjee, VEDANTA; Shri P. Bandhopadhyay, NALCO; Dr. Pratima Meshram, CSIR-NML; Shri Vinod Verma, NALCO; Ms. Rashmi Gupta, HINDALCO; Shri Mayank Sharma, VEDANTA, Shri Sagar Pandit, HINDALCO; Dr. Kali Sanjay, CSIR-IMMT; Dr. S.P. Das, CSIR-IMMT and Dr. Alok Tripathy, CSIR-IMMT

The members of PERC (Project Evaluation & Review Committee) and other experts of SSAG met on 7th June 2023 under the Chairmanship of Shri U C Joshi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Mines during the meeting held at JNARDDC to discuss the existing thrust areas of the S&T – research program scheme. All the members gave their suggestions with a view to reframe the thrust areas to include the latest developments in technological fields and make the S&T research program more effective. There was a need to shift the focus from fundamental research to industry oriented projects with time bound deliverables so that the R&D outputs could be scaled up and commercialized for the benefit of the end user and society at large.

LiFE, which means 'LiFEStyle For Environment'. It's a mass movement towards an environmentally conscious lifestyle. On the occasion of world environment day, JNARDDC undertook a mass cluster plantation program near extrusion press area by all the employees and staff. This was followed by a lecture by Dr Pujari, NEERI on the topic food energy water nexus. All employees took an online pledge on Mission LiFE and shared their e-certificates as a commitment towards environmental sustenance.

With a view to add value to the capacity to the officials handling office work in the Ministry of Mines an interaction was held between Secretary (Mines) and other officials on 1st May 2023. Subsequently it was decided that all ASO, SO, Legal Assistants, Consultants and Technical manpower shall undertake an exposure visit to JNARDDC, GSI and Gumgaon mines of MOIL. This noble initiative by Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, IAS, Secretary (Mines) will provide an opportunity for all the dealing hands to visit the actual office sites of Ministry of Mines and enhance Annual Capacity Building Plan (ACBP) by getting onsite exposure of the labs and mines. Three batches of 10 officials completed the tour during 10th, 17th and 24th May 2023.

JNARDDC celebrated its 34th Foundation day on 21st April 2023. The event was inaugurated Chief Guest, Mr Ajit Kumar Saxena, CMD, MOIL Ltd. and Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC. Mr Saxena with a wide experience in steel sector appreciated JNARDDC for its achievements in the last 33 years and the efficient way the institute has adapted to the changes in the government policies. Mr MT Nimje, Dr Upendra Singh, Dr Md Najar, Dr Suchita Rai and Dr PG Bhukte were felicitated by Director, JNARDDC for their technical achievements in patent and publication. Mrs R Vishakha, Sr Admin Officer was awarded the employee of the year for 2022-23. The Coal Division, Spectro-Chemical & X-Ray Lab and CTSC were awarded certificate of appreciation for their invaluable contribution towards revenue generation activity. The inaugural session was followed by an address on “Decarboniztion in Aluminium Sector” by Dr Sadhna S Rayalu, Chief Scientist, NEERI, Mr Shrikant P Dharmadhikari, NPTI and Dr Vijay S Yeul, Sr Chemist MAHAGENCO, Chandrapur. The session was summed up by Dr Anupam Agnihotri by highlighting the benefits of circular economy and emphasizing the key role JNARDDC will be playing as the Metal Recycling Authority (MRA) in the non-ferrous sector of aluminium, copper, lead and zinc. The event was attended by ex-employees and delegates from IBM, GSI, VNIT, CIMFR, NEERI, IBAAS, IDBI Bank, Yes Bank (sponsorer), PRIMUS, RGNIIPM, USIA, NPTI, RCOEM, SMS India, TATA Advance System, Sterling Education System, MINEX, etc. The Institute organized a blood donation camp in the second half in association with Indira Gandhi Government Medical College & Hospital (IGGMCH).

In continuation with the previous cycling events undertaken by JNARDDC under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav the Centre honoured the cyclists who successfully completed the K-K (Kashmir to Kanyakumari) Race across India organized by Indian Oil. The aspiring participants completed the race of 3651 kms in less than 12 days which included the internationally renowned cyclist Dr Amit Samarth who is the only man in Asia to have completed the two longest cycling races in the world — Race Across America (RAAM) and Trans Siberian Extreme (TSE). The participants also included specially-abled para cyclists Ms Geeta S Rao and Shri Shubham Das who shared their experiences of crossing 12 states with different terrains. Director JNARDDC honoured the participants with mementos in the event held on 20th March 2023 at JNARDDC.

The 108th session of Indian Science Congress 2023 (ISC) was hosted by the Nagpur University at its Amravati Road Campus. The focal theme of this year’s ISC is “Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment.” JNARDDC has showcased its stall with various innovative R&D products and process. Dr. Jitendra Singh Hon’ble Union Minister of Science & Technology and Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra along with other top officials visited the JNARDDC stall and interacted with the scientists and staff. The science congress provided an ideal platform to establish collaboration among the various stakeholders, all working towards a common goal of scientific research and development for the overall benefit of nation and society.

Shri Upendra C Joshi officer of 1989- IRTS batch undertook his maiden visit to JNARDDC on 19th January 2023. Prior to joining the Ministry of Mines as Joint Secretary he had held several key portfolios including DRM, Kota, WCR etc. Under his able leadership the Ministry of Mines has been able to provide a fruitful direction to several key initiatives related to circular economy, EPR, resource efficiency etc. During the lab visit he inaugurated TGA and interacted with the scientists and staff and looked forward to their technical contribution in making a significant change to the non-ferrous sector. He also undertook in the plantation program.

The annual sporting events which commenced from Dec 2022 culminated in Jan 2023. The management believes that a fit body is the home for a fit mind. Most of the employees and staff participated in the month-long various sporting activities and the following winners were appreciated by the Director and management of JNARDDC. Table Tennis Doubles : K J Kulkarni & Piyush Kshirsaut Badminton Doubles : Paparao Modi & K Kishore Carrom Singles : V P Naik Carrom Doubles : A Agnihotri & K Ramteke JPL Cricket: Yellow Tigers (R Srinivasan)

Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Government of India, was warmly welcomed by Director, JNARDDC, along with all the personnel, on his maiden visit to JNARDDC Nagpur on on 6th December 2022. Shri Bharadwaj inaugurated three new lab facilities (i) GEO-Analytical Lab equipped with carbon Sulphur analyzer, direct mercury analyzer & TCLP (ii) Reference Materials for the Analysis of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys and (iii) Unit for AlF3 and Silica (SiO2) recovery from coal fly ash. He also participated in the plantation program and during the review meeting, Shri Bharadwaj, interacted at length with the scientists and other personnel of JNARDDC and urged all to focus on commercialization of research projects.

The second edition of the three-day National conclave, "MINCON 2022 - MINES. MINERALS. METALS," is being held from 14-16 October 2022 at Chitnavis Center in Nagpur. It's co-organized by the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation Ltd. (MSMC), Vidarbha Economic Development Council (VED) and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Pvt. Ltd.
MINCON, India’s leading event devoted to the mining, minerals, and metals industry, will provide a platform for business leaders, CEOs, consultants, senior government officials, decision-makers, and trade delegations to network, share ideas, showcase their technology, and create lasting business relationships.
The national conclave will highlight India’s rich mineral resources in order to attract investments in the mining and processing sectors, provide a platform for engagement between government, stakeholders, and users, and to deliberate on opportunities to maximise value addition. It will present a fantastic opportunity for networking with influential figures from practically every region of India and overseas, as well as to help to promote business and support the growth and development of the nation's mines, minerals, and metals.
JNARDDC has showcased its various innovative R&D products and process. Shri Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, Hon'ble Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines visited the JNARDDC stall and interacted with the scientists and staff. Shri Joshi was briefed about the various achievements of JNARDDC in the field of bauxite, alumina, aluminum and diversification as Metal Recycling Authority and Referee lab for third party coal sample analysis.
The conclave will provide an ideal platform to establish collaboration among the various stakeholders, all working towards a common goal, and to air their grievances, which can be used to formulate policies in the future.

Training programme on “Alumina making process” for NALCO operators was successfully conducted at JNARDDC from 18th -20th July 2022 and 12th – 14th October 2022 in two batches. Total of 33 operators attended this programme and the lectures were delivered in the areas of alumina making process (Bauxite Characteristics, Desilication, Digestion, Settling and Washing, Precipitation in Bayer process, Available alumina and Reactive silica determination, Advances in Alumina Technology, Special alumina, Alumina smelting etc.). Operators also visited different laboratories during their 3 days training programme. The operators from NALCO expressed that the theoretical knowledge gained will certainly help them in discharging their duties more efficiently and in turn improve the productivity and quality in the plant.

Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC participated and delivered the keynote lecture on “Framework to Drive Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy in Indian Aluminium Sector” during the 40th International Conference and Exhibition, ICSOBA 2022. It was organized by The International Committee for Study of Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium during 10 – 14th Oct 2022 at Athens, Greece.

JNARDDC is happy to announce about its new venture as Reference Material Producer (RMP) for producing CRMs used for spectro-chemical analysis of aluminium alloys on spark OES. Any RMP must be ISO 17034 accreditation is a must for RMP and currently JNARDDC is in its final stage of accreditation process. In this regard, Ms Sanchita Bhattacharya from Consultrain Management Services (CMS), Kolkata visited JNARDDC to impart awareness training about quality management system requirements as per ISO 17034 in accordance with which reference materials shall be produced. During the training program, all the general requirements for the competence and consistent operation of reference material producers as specified in the ISO 17034 were discussed with all the personnel involved in RMP activities.

Mr.Sushim Banerjee, CEO and Dr.Dhruba Bhaduri, Senior Executive from Indian Iron & Steel Sector Skill Council (IISSSC) visited JNARDDC on 9th September 2022 for discussion regarding "Skill Gap Study for Aluminum & other Non-ferrous Metals. Subsequently JNARDDC and IISSSC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 30th September 2022, to establish a collaboration for imparting employable skill trainings in several occupations related to technical development in Non-Ferrous Metal Sector. JNARDDC will provide training in the areas of Operations Management, Quality, Reliability and Maintenance, Ergonomics and Safety, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Productivity Enhancement Studies, Industry 4.0 job roles, and Skill Gap Analysis Study in Non-ferrous metal sectors viz. aluminium, copper, zinc and lead. This initiative will give an impetus to the "Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana" (PMKVY) and enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training.

JNARDDC officials attended 73rd annual meeting & symposium of the International Committee for Coal & Organic Petrology (ICCP-2022), during 18th to 25th September 2022, at New Delhi to attain exposure to new & emerging techniques and to interact with the coal petrologists around the globe who attend this conference. With the symposium's theme, "Recent trends on coal utilization for sustainable development and energy security“, talks were focused on current issues surrounding the use of coal for the steel and power industries.

Metal Recycling Authority (JNARDDC), Ministry of Mines, organized a “One day Brainstorming session on Non-Ferrous Metal Recycling” on 17th September 2022 at Courtyard by Marriott, Raipur (CG) to bring all the stakeholders of NF Metal Recycling together on a common platform for meaningful interactions, exchange of ideas etc. This event is a part of the initiative to boost scrap recycling by spreading awareness of government’s agenda on Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy to make the non-ferrous metal industry sustainable and providing opportunity to the stakeholder industry to present their views. Shri Ved Prakash Mishra from MoEF&CC was the Chief Guest and during his address, he highlighted the importance of circular economy and aluminium recycling. Several representatives of MRAI (Material Recycling Authority of India), Bureau of Indian Standards, ASI and leading aluminium, copper, lead and zinc recycling companies participated and had intensive discussions on this industry's present status and future. The event observed distinguished deliberations from both the central & state government as well as representatives from non-ferrous metal recycling industry and industry associations. The event also witnessed participation of OEMs, equipment suppliers, service providers, students & faculty from National Institute of Technology Raipur. Mr R N Chouhan, HoD, Downstream briefed about the inception of Metal Recycling Authority, JNARDDC and its proposed action plans. Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC presented briefly about the national non-ferrous metal scrap recycling framework which includes the responsibilities of various stakeholders, standardisation, databank, recycling zones, urban mines, etc.

The 10th IBAAS conference, co-organized by JNARDDC was held at Raipur during 14th – 17th September 2022 and was inaugurated by Mr Bibhu Prasad Mishra, President & Head, Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, Hindalco Industries. Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC, Ms Marieke van der Mijn, Director of Partnerships, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) and Ms Lavanya Kugaswaran, Environment Program Manager, International Aluminium Institute (IAI), London were also present during the inauguration as guests of honour. About 200 delegates representing the bauxite, alumina and aluminium industry, research organizations, technology/equipment suppliers, service providers, and academic institutes participated in this conference. Dr Ashok Nandi, Convener of the Conference highlighted the journey, growth and contribution of IBAAS to the Aluminium industry.. The 3-day conference was devoted to a series of technical papers in 3 parallel sessions covering topics related to bauxite, non-metallurgical bauxite-alumina and red-mud, alumina and aluminium smelting and downstream. About 50 high-quality technical papers were presented by engineers / scientists of leading primary aluminium producers, R&D institutes, and technology and equipment suppliers. An essential addition to this conference is the workshop by Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) on 16th September, which was held for the first time in India. Several interested delegates of India's primary and secondary aluminium producers participated in this workshop to discuss about the ASI certification program in detail, and the benefits for responsible aluminium producers. A technical paper titled "Synthesis of 3N Pure Alpha Nano-alumina from Aluminium Foil” presented by the team from JNARDDC was selected as best paper for the sessions on non-metallurgical bauxite-alumina and red-mud.

Employees of JNARDDC were given training on 1SO/IEC 17025: 2017 from 7th to 10th September 2022, by Dr. K N Udpa in an effort to provide in-depth knowledge about laboratory practices for testing. Dr. K. N. Udpa is a former employee of Tata Steel and a NABL assessor with extensive understanding in the area of chemical analysis and coal & other solid fuel testing. JNARDDC has undergone the evaluation and assessment required by NABL 1SO/IEC 17025: 2017 for the extension of the accreditation's scope to include the coal, mechanical, and chemical disciplines.

JNARDDC and the CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (CSIR-AMPRI) in Bhopal signed a memorandum of understanding on 2nd September 2022, for cooperation in the development of non-toxic, lead-free gamma ray shielding material using alumina industry waste (red mud). JNARDDC will source red mud and analyse its physico-chemical properties, and CSIR-AMPRI will convert this hazardous by-product into green and economically viable gamma ray shielding bricks. The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Avanish Kumar Srivastava, Director, CSIR-AMPRI, and Dr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC, Nagpur, along with officials from both organizations. Dr. Atul Narayan Vaidya, Director, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, present on the occasion, opined that the project outcome is expected to solve the problems associated with the environment and society, leading to a circular economy.

Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur undertook a mass plantation program as a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) iconic week celebration of Ministry of Mines. AKAM is an initiative of the Government to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of it's people, culture and achievements to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The official journey of AKAM commenced on 12th March 2021 and will end post a year on 15th August 2023. All the organizations of Ministry of Mines have undertaken different events during this Iconic week from 11th to 17th July. The iconic week mass plantation program of JNARDDC on 15th July 2022 was inaugurated at the hands of Chief Guest - Ms Nirupama Kotru, IRS, Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Coal & Mines. She also inaugurated the cement road of JNARDDC and new facilities of coal sample preparation lab. She appreciated the technical assignments being undertaken by JNARDDC for NITI Aayog, Ministry of Mines, aluminium industry, power sector (Bureau of Energy Efficiency), coal sector as the referee lab for third party coal sampling and as Metal Recycling Authority (MRA). She applauded the efforts of JNARDDC and the Social forestry division in making JNARDDC campus evergreen with regular plantation programs. Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC stated that JNARDDC would scale new heights in scientific research activities and surpass its revenue generation targets. Mr Laxmikant M Padole, Director, Neem Research & Technology Development Centre, Kalmeshwar, Nagpur showcased a brief film about the benefits of organic farming and mass plantation program for sustaining the environment for the future generations. All the employees and staff planted around 150 saplings in JNARDDC campus. The program was compered by Ms R Vishakha, Admin Officer and vote of thanks was proposed by Mr R Srinivasan, Sr Admin Officer.

The 26th International Conference on Non ferrous Metals (ICNFM-2022) was held at hotel Radisson Blu, Nagpur on 8-9 July 2022. The conference was organized by Corporate Monitor in Association with Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) with Material Recycling Association of India(MRAI), Aluminium Association of India (AAI) and supported by Ministry of Mines, Govt of India. The Conference was inaugurated by Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director JNARDDC, Shri Naveen Sharma, Director MRAI, Shri Bibhu Mishra, Head (MCoE), HINDALCO, Shri Rohit Pathak, CEO -Copper Business, HINDALCO, Shri Arun Mishra , CEO Hindustan Zinc and Shri Leeladhar Patidar, COO, Sterlite Copper. Dr Agnihotri focussed on the contribution of non-ferrous sector to the Indian economy in his inaugural speech. He highlighted the role of JNARDDC as the nominated Metal Recycling Authority (MRA), as stipulated in National Non-Ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework, 2020. Shri Navin Sharma, Director, MRAI emphasized the contribution of recycling industry for accelerated growth of the metal industry. The heads of the non-ferrous industries look forward to harmonious co-existence of both primary and secondary sector for the sustainable development of the non-ferrous sector. Scientific excellence awards were given to Dr. B.K. Satpathy (Visiting faculty, IIT Bhubaneshwar), Dr Upendra Singh (Head, Analytical, JNARDDC), Shri Rohit Pathak (HINDALCO) and Dr Bhavin Desai (Aditya Birla). Around 35 technical papers, 5 international technical papers and around 14 posters will be presented at the conference. 125 delegates from India and abroad participated in the conference. The event was compered by Mrs R Vishakha, Admin Officer, JNARDDC and vote of thanks was proposed by Shri R.N. Chouhan, HoD(DSP), JNARDDC

Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre, JNARDDC, Nagpur an autonomous body of Ministry of Mines celebrated 8th International Yoga day on 21st June 2022.

Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre, JNARDDC, Nagpur an autonomous body of Ministry of Mines celebrated its 33rd Foundation day on 25th May 2022. The event was inaugurated Chief Guest, Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Chief Scientist & HORG, CSIR, CIMFR, Dhanbad, Guest of Honour Shri Anil Kumar, DGM( FM), NTPC, Noida and Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC. Dr Ashok Kumar Singh, a renowned scientist and recipient of several national and international awards including the CSIR Technology awards commended JNARDDC for its achievements in the last 33 years. He also congratulated JNARDDC for being one of the top most coal referee lab for third party sampling. Similarly, Shri Anil Kumar of NTPC shared his experiences about fuel management and briefed the audience about the current coal shortage situation in India. He stated that JNARDDC can play a key role by undertaking greater number of pending samples. Director, JNARDDC felicitated the employees for their technical achievements in patent, publication and projects. Shri R.N. Chouhan, Sr Principal Scientist, Dr Upendra Singh, Sr Principal Scientist and Mrs Jyoti Pendam, Junior Scientist were awarded the employee of the year for 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively. The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on “Resource Efficiency in Non-Ferrous metal sector” by Directors of Metal Recycling Association of Indian (MRAI), Dr Kishore Rajpurohit on Aluminium, Shri Navin Sharma on Lead and Shri Jines Shah on Copper. Dr Anupam Agnihotri highlighted the benefits of recycled products. The dignitaries participated in a plantation program. The event was attended by ex-employees and delegates from IBM, GSI, VNIT, CIMFR, MRSAC, AMD, BMPL etc. Shri R N Chouhan, HoD (Downstream) was the overall co-ordinator of the event and the compering was done by Mrs. R Vishakha, Admin Officer.

Shri Sanjay Lohiya, IAS Additional Secretary (Mines), Govt of India visited JNARDDC and reviewed the activities of the Centre. He inaugurated the Coal Lab (Sample Conditioning) which was followed by lab visit. He appreciated the well maintained office environment and encouraged scientists and staff to continue their innovative technical contribution to the metal sector. He also undertook plantation program in the JNARDDC premises.

Bauxite Miner’s Meet (BMM-2021)-Virtual Organized on September 29, 2021

25th International Conference on Nonferrous Metals-2021 was organized by Corporate Monitor in association with JNARDDC, Aluminium association of India (AAI) and Material Recycling authority of India (MRAI) at New Delhi on 3-4th September 2021 for promoting environmental-friendly technologies for primary & secondary metal extraction
The event was inaugurated by Mr Sanjay Lohiya (IAS), additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines in the presence of the chiefs of public and private sector organization dealing with nonferrous metals. Four research papers were also presented by JNARDDC during the event.
The event also provided an excellent platform to bring together the Indian non-ferrous industry with the international metal world and provided an opportunity to discuss the best practices, benchmarks, technological advancement, innovations and the opportunities of collective empowerment, to promote the overall development of nonferrous industry, all of which will culminate to inspire the aim for “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
NALCO, Hindustan Copper, IIT BHU, CSIR-NML, Aditya Birla group, Vedanta group who are dealing with nonferrous metals participated in the conference.

“National Extruders Meet” organised on 30th April 2021 received overwhelming response from the stakeholders. The event witnessed participation of around 80 attendees and experts including 35 extruders, 15 equipment suppliers, 201 researchers and academicians, 5 billet casters and others from all over the country.

Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC delivered the welcome address and also inaugurated the programme. He stressed upon the need for developing new aluminium alloys and extruded profiles for building and construction, automobile and also for strategic applications for growing needs of the country. Other experts emphasised on best practices to achieve quality and productivity, emerging needs of aluminium extrusions in India, developments and requirements of aluminium extrusions for aerospace applications, new energy saving or green technologies.

R N Chouhan, Head Downstream Division and VNSU Viswanath Ammu, Extrusion Facility In-charge jointly anchored the online meet. Scientists from Downstream Division of JNARDDC Dr P Mondi, Dr Anas, R Anil Kumar and I Raju coordinated the Video conferencing and staff member Pravin Waghmare , Suman Mukherjee, Dilip Dhanpale Prabhakar Hedaoo, Yogesh Dhuwadhappar coordinated the live demonstration of Extrusion Press.

The International Yoga Day was celebrated by JNARDDC on 21.06.2021 wherein employees joined live online Yoga training sequence of Janardanswami Yogabhyasi Mandal, Nagpur from 7.00 AM daily since 14th June 2021. While some staff performed the yoga sequence in the office canteen by following COVID-19 protocols of social distancing, several others joined virtually from their homes along with their family for practicing and propagating the benefits of Yoga. The very heart of yoga practice is ‘abyhasa’ – steady effort in the direction you want to go.

The International symposium Non-ferrous Minerals & Metals (ICNFMM-2020) webinar series is being conducted by JNARDDC and Corporate Monitor from Sept 2020. The final event will culminate in March 2021

JNARDDC in collaboration with IBAAS, Nagpur successfully organized the International Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium Society (IBAAS-2020) webinar from 4-6 Nov 2020. Over 400 participants from all over world interacted and shared their R&D ideas during the webinar. JNARDDC provided the ultimate IT infrastructure for smoothly conducting the webinar.

Scientists of JNARDDC presented papers in the 38th International Conference and Exhibition of ICSOBA which will be held on virtual platform from 16 to 18 November 2020.

The Ministry of Mines successfully conducted the 20th PERC (Project Evaluation & Review Committee) meeting held under the Chairmanship of Shri Satendra Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Mines during 23-25 Nov 2020 through VC. JNARDDC played the host role by organizing 3 virtual meeting rooms for

• Mining
• Mineral Processing
• Metallurgy

The excellent IT infrastructure of JNARDDC provided the ideal platform for smooth review of around 140 projects by connecting the committee members and around 140 Project Investigators from all over India. A special feature of this year is that a new portal dedicated to the scheme, viz. SATYABHAMA portal (research.mines.gov.in), was launched by Hon’ble Minister of Mines and the new project proposals were received through this portal. A total number of 383 project proposals were received online on the portal. After screening, 102 proposals covering five areas, namely

• Geosciences and Exploration
• Mining
• Mineral Processing & recovery from waste
• Metal Extraction (Metallurgical processes)
• Alloys, specialty materials and product

were short listed for further review in the second stage. These 102 project proposals were presented by the respective Principal Investigators (PIs) and evaluated by the committee during the VC meeting held on 23-25 Nov 2020. The projects recommended by PERC shall be taken up by the SSAG for final approval.

The Ministry of Mines(MoM), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development & Design Centre (JNARDDC), European Union(EU) and European Union for Resource Efficient India (EUREI) with GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation), New Delhi will be conducting the 2nd phase of Red Mud Meeting 2019 on 19th Sept. 2019 at New Delhi. The same is being supported by the primary aluminium producers namely, NALCO, HINDALCO AND VEDANTA. This meet will involve participation from international members in the relevant field to evolve a global solution for the bauxite residue (red mud)

Two and half day “Capacity Building and Awareness Programme on Aluminium”, being held in Hotel MAYFAIR Lagoon Bhubaneswar organized by Ministry of Mines and NITI Aayog together with Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) Aluminium Association of India (AAI), Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) and Aluminium Secondary Manufacturers Association (ASMA) was inaugurated by Mr Ratan P Watal, Member Secretary, EAC-PM, GoI in presence of distinguished dignitaries Dr Anupam Agnihotri (Director, JNARDDC), Dr B N Satpathy (Sr. Consultant, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to GoI), Mr Amit Saran (Director, Ministry of Mines), Mr Bibhu Mishra (MCoE, HINDALCO), Mr Sharanan Chaudhuri (Executive Director, Mines, NALCO), Mr Kishore Rajpurohit (Vice President, MRAI) and host of participants. In his inaugural speech Mr Watal stressed the need for circular economy (in which resources are kept in use for as long as possible, the maximum value is extracted from them whilst in use, the products and materials are recovered and regenerated at the end of each product life) and resource efficiency in view of depleting natural resources in global competition. For sustainable development, Auminium Resource Efficiency is key element necessitating great attention at waste materials such as bauxite residue (red mud), fly ash, spent pot lining (SPL), dross and recycling of aluminium. Dr Agnihotri affirmed the commitment of JNARDDC to contribute in every possible way in achieving resource efficiency in aluminium industry which can become zero waste industry and carbon neutral by 2030-35 with concerted efforts of everybody involved. Dr Agnihotri advocated the establishment of regulatory authority (on similar lines like Bureau of Energy Efficiency –BEE- under Ministry of Power) which will help in conserving the resources enhancing cost competiveness etc
The programme has received widespread participation from all three primary aluminium producing companies (NALCO, VEDANTA & HINDALCO), MRAI, ASMA, Secondary aluminium industries, representatives from Govt organisations (NITI Aayog, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, CPCB, SPCB, BARC, IBM, Ministry and BIS etc) as well as from technology providers, young entrepreneurs, academicians and students etc. Deliberation in next two and half days will focus on following aspects of Resource efficiency in Aluminium.
Specific uses of waste generated by the Primary and Secondary Aluminium Industry Processing of the waste into value added products Recycling of aluminium - Areas of concern Best available technologies Deliberations, interactions during this programme will not only enlighten the participants but will help in better understanding and implementing the desired goals of resource efficiency in the interest of industry and nation.