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India is lagging behind in exploiting its bauxite reserves and also in aluminium production due to certain “misplaced concerns” over ecological issues, according to various miners gathered at at the inaugural session of the three-day international seminar on bauxite mining and aluminium production.
The seminar is organised by the International Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium Society (IBAAS) in association with several other organisations. Over 200 delegates, several from abroad, attended the seminar.
Vedanta Resources CEO Tom Albanese in his key-note address said India was lagging behind in exploiting its bauxite reserves. Even though technologies are available for sustained exploitation of the reserves and development of the industry in an eco-friendly way, negative propaganda was hindering the growth of the industry.
Raw material securityHe said raw material security was the key factor worrying those seeking to invest in the aluminium sector and steps should be taken to address the concerns.
H Mahadevan, President (projects), Anrak Aluminium, said that red-tapism was impeding the aluminium refinery projects and bauxite mining in the Eastern Ghats.
He said mining activity should be carried out with long-term and sustainable safeguards and precautions.
He also said aluminium can be recycled infinitely, and with low energy consumption. He said of the ten projects sanctioned in the Eastern ghats, “only one is fully operational and two are partly operational and the rest are languishing due to various reasons. It is highly regrettable.”
He said it was also the responsibility of the industry to enlist the co-operation of the local communities to undertake bauxite mining on a long-term basis and in a sustained manner. He emphasised the need for value-addition and setting up the most modern refineries.
Mahadevan said China was surging ahead in the field and India also needs to take urgent steps to promote bauxite mining and aluminium industry, especially in the Eastern ghats of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
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