IBAAS Conference concludes in Mumbai with deliberations from national and internal delegates from the aluminium value chain

IBAAS successfully organized 7th International Conference and Exhibition (IBAAS-2018) during September 5 - 7, 2018 India with the theme “Indian Aluminium Industry – Status, Strategies & Way Forward for Accelerated Growth”. This Conference covered complete value chain from bauxite to aluminium downstream products in two and half days of interactive meet. About 220 delegates from all over the world participated in this mega Aluminium event in Mumbai. The conference was followed by visit to Hindalco’s Taloja Aluminium downstream facility and Aditya Birla Science and Technology Company Private Limited (ABSTCPL). Mr. Satish Pai, Managing Director, HINDALCO and Mr. Ron Knapp, Secretary General, International Aluminium Institute inaugurated the conference. The conference was also graced by Guests - Prof. Amol Gokhale, Vice President, Non-Ferrous Metallurgy Division, The Indian Institute of Metals and Dr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC, India.

Executives from organizations like Aditya Birla Science & Technology Co. Pvt. Ltd., HINDALCO, VEDANTA, Asian Metal, Norsk Hydro, CPDM, Guinea, SRK Consulting (UK) Limited graced the conference.

As many as 75 technical papers were presented in the conference during the deliberations covering wide range of subjects from Bauxite Beneficiation to Aluminium Downstream products. The presentations were grouped into following sessions: 

1. Key Note Addresses and Presentations by Sponsors on First Day
2. Parallel Technical Sessions on Second Day  

• Non-Metallurgical Bauxite & Alumina
• Value from Waste
• Aluminium Smelting
• Aluminium Downstream

3. There were two parallel sessions on third day – Bauxite & Alumina sessions.

IBAAS technical committee and Chairmen awarded best 2 papers in each session.

On the first day, Mr. Satish Pai, Managing Director of HINDALCO highlighted the issues being faced by Aluminium industry in India, particularly power reliability, availability of raw materials and disposal of red mud, SPL and other waste products. Ron Knapp in his key note address has shown the positive side of Aluminium industry and indicated that demand is growing at 4% globally and an extra 3 Mt of primary production required each year. Dr. Agnihotri, Director JNARDDC presented a paper on ‘Indian Technology Road Map for Aluminium: Vision. Further Prof. D.N. Singh of IIT Mumbai showed a way to prepare man-made soil from bauxite residue generated during alumina production.  

There were two presentations on Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium industry of China by Friday Gao of Asian Metals and Sunny Huang of BGRIMM Lilan Consulting Corp., Ltd, China.

Mr. Bibhu Mishra of HINDALCO presented the status of Aluminium Smelters in India and highlighted that rising energy prices & duties are key concern for primary aluminum industry growth in India. Further Prof. Gokhale of The Indian Institute of Metals highlighted the major developments of Aluminium Downstream industry of India and showed the potential for future growth.

There was a team of officials from Guinea, the west African country with the largest bauxite resources. Mr. Mohamed Lamine Sy Savané, Director CPDM presented a key note address on Status of Bauxite Mining & Export from Guinea and shown bauxite deposits being developed by Indian companies and on-going infrastructure project.

The Platinum Sponsor of IBAAS-2018 REEL Alesa SAS, France has shown their excellent capabilities in materials handling and lifting system in Aluminium industry. Shanghai Heat Transfer Equipment Co., Ltd., China as Gold Sponsor presented their paper on plate heat exchangers used in Alumina refineries world over. Silver Sponsors of this conference & exhibition Epsilon Carbon Pvt Ltd., Mumbai, India and Jingjin Environmental Protection Inc., China also made their presentations. The presentation of the first day was concluded with the Video presentation - Aluminium Stewardship Initiative – Sustainability of Australia. AlCircle team was present during the conference as the media partner. 

On the second and third day, several technical papers were presented by leading Indian and foreign experts.  During the concluding session, several leaders of Aluminium industry and delegates expressed their views for better organization and improve the quality of technical papers and presentations. It is suggested to invite outstanding bauxite, alumina and aluminium experts from all over the world to deliver and interact with Scientists and Engineers of Indian industry.

An exhibition was also organized at the venue of this conference and 8 stalls were taken by companies.