COMMENT :
Chhattisgarh a promising state with abundant natural resources
The main objective of Chhattisgarh’s New Industrial Policy 2004–2009 is to add maximum
value to the state’s abundant natural resources within the state itself and also to create
maximum employment opportunities by setting industries in all its districts across the
state. In order to attract industrial investment into the state, the policy attempts at providing
necessary infrastructure for investment, reducing the cost of production for the investors and ensuring an investor friendly administration.
SPECIAL FEATURE
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR – the biggest end-users’ market for aluminium
Aluminium use yields, through its contribution to vehicle light-weighting, substantial
energy savings and reduced emission and fuel consumption levels in today’s
environmentally conscious society. Its strength and corrosion-resistance guarantee
durability, reliability and security, coupled with cost-effectiveness. Its formability
ensures complete flexibility of design and ease of handling, while its flawless aspect
promises maximum aesthetic impact. Finally, its total recyclability allows the aluminium
industry to fulfill its commitment to the principles of sustainable development and
its pledge to future generations… writes Shaonli Chatterjee.
IN FOCUS
Vedanta heading towards a brighter tomorrow braving all odds
At a juncture when Indian metal production sector is nearing the centre stage of
world metal industry at a blistering growth rate of 10% annually, domestic aluminium
majors are busy gaining scale in order to deal with their larger global peers. Large
number of investors –both domestic and international, at par, is flocking at the
country’s most minerally (industrial) enriched region-Orissa specifically, to harness
its goodness to the fullest. Of all these metal majors who are undeterred in stepping
up their capacities, one entity that stands out is Vedanta Resources Plc. Enamoured
with strong financials, the company is hitting headlines, either by announcing vast
expansion project worth more than $3.1 billion or by making dynamic entry into the
iron ore business.
NEWS CORNER
- World’s top aluminium maker UC RUSAL to Vietnam
- Alcoa to supply specialized aluminium products to NASA for Ares 1 Launch Vehicle
- ABB clinches major $26-mln service contract in Chile
COMPANY PROFILE
Return of the goliath
Alcan Inc is acquiring 76% in Alukbond India Pvt Ltd for less than $50 million in an
all-cash deal. Tie-up enables Alcan to better serve its customers in the fast growing architectural facades
market in India. ALUCOBOND®- the globally recognized aluminium composite material, used for architectural facades, is to be made available to the local market. Alcan Composite proposes to increase to Rs 90 crore in a year and Rs160 crore by
financial year 2008.
METAL NEWS
INDIA’S BAUXITE ORE outturn set to zoom 30% by 2010
India, a natural cornucopia of industrial minerals that has played functional in catapulting the nation as the next ‘Big Thing’ in the world primary metal sector, is going to endow the global aluminium industry with yet another significant accession. The
production of bauxite- a key ingredient in aluminium manufacturing, which finds a recoverable reserve of 2.3 billion tonnes in the country with production estimating about 12.3 million tonnes (mt) every year, is expected to increase 30% in coming three years taking the output capacity to a substantial 16 Mtpy (million tonne per year) by 2010.
REFRACTORY
Interaction of chrome-free refractories with copper smelting and converting slags
Concern over the potential labeling of spent mag-chrome brick from copper production furnaces as hazardous waste
has led to a joint research program by the University of Missouri-Rolla (USA) and the G.K. Williams CRC for
Extractive Metallurgy (Australia) to assess the usefulness of potential alternative materials, focusing on refractories
in the magnesia-alumina system. In this presentation, a mineralogical assessment is made of the results of shorttime
(10 minutes) static exposure of commercial mag-alumina refractory samples to molten ferrous silicate slags
typical of those used in commercial copper smelting and converting furnaces.
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Trends in the Global Aluminum Fabrication Industry
The aluminum fabrication industry has become more vital to the global economy as international aluminum
consumption has grown steadily in the past decades. Using innovation, value, and sustainability, the aluminum
industry is strengthening its position not only in traditional packaging and construction applications but also in the
automotive and aerospace markets to become more competitive and to face challenges from other industries and
higher industrial standards. The aluminum fabrication industry has experienced a significant geographical shift
caused by rapid growth in emerging markets in countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Market growth
and distribution will vary with different patterns of geography and social development; the aluminum industry must
be part of the transformation and keep pace with market developments to benefit.
SEMINAR AND CONFERENCE
Scope of aluminium smelting capacity expansion very strong in India
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (Balco) as the main sponsor graced the event with its all round presence and
over all management out look in line with the name and style of the flagship company of the Vedanta Group. The
other sponsors were National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) in association with National Institute of
Technology (NIT), Raipur with its set of young and energetic students playing the role of event managers successfully.
The market moved from a deficit in 2006 to a surplus in 2007 which is expected to show similar trends till 2009. The
forecast for global aluminium production growth is 50.1% with the highest demand growth forecast in Asia showing
12% CAGR mainly in China followed by Russia and Latin America.
|
IRON & STEEL REVIEW
