JNARDDC sucessfully concludes national conference on “Energy Efficiency Opportunities and Challenges in Aluminium Industries" on 4th and 5th August,

The Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur which has recently completed 25 years of its existence has organized a national conference “Energy Efficiency Opportunities and Challenges in Aluminium Industries (NCEEOCAI)” on 4th and 5th August, 2014 in association with Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Maharashtra Energy Development Authority (MEDA), SESA Sterlite Industry, GIZ, Indo-German Energy Program (IGEN) and National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO) as a part of its silver jubilee celebrations.

As we know, energy is the propeller of growth of any economy, which needs to be conserved. Hence efficient use of energy resources and their conservation assume tremendous significance which is essential for curtailment of wasteful consumption and sustainable development. Government of India has enacted the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 and established the Bureau of Energy Efficiency in March, 2002. The Act provides for institutionalizing and strengthening delivery mechanism for energy efficiency services in the country and provides the much-needed coordination between the various entities. Energy saving is a national cause and everybody will have to make all out efforts in making India an energy efficient economy and society so that not only we remain competitive within our own market but also are able to compete in the international market.

Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) was established in 1985 as the State Nodal Agency for promotion, propagation and development of renewable energy sources in the State of Maharashtra. MEDA is also notified as the ‘State Designated Agency’ to implement the Energy Conservation Act-2001 in the State and is also engaged in implementing programmes of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Govt. of India. MEDA has done lot of trend setting work has received many National awards for their outstanding contribution in the area of energy conservation and renewable energy sources development. MEDA has extended full cooperation for the efforts of the Government of India in implementation of the PAT Scheme for the industries.

Since last three years JNARDDC is closely associated with BEE as sector expert for providing technical knowledge and expertise to manage the aluminium sector within PAT scheme implemented by National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).

Since the major cost of production is attributed to energy consumption in aluminium industry, there is a need to identify the probable areas where further energy reduction measures can be implemented. The two day conference will help in identifying most of the areas (right from bauxite processing to downstream areas including captive power plant) wherein there is a scope for further improvement in energy reduction and will be beneficial for the participants from primary as well as secondary aluminium manufacturers in the country, particularly for implementation of the Perform, Achieve & Trade (PAT) Scheme of Government of India.

The national conference, NCEEOCAI is first of its kind jointly organized by JNARDDC and BEE in association with MEDA, SESA STERLITE & NALCO to propagate energy management strategies to optimize and manage energy consumption in aluminium industry to meet the regulatory requirement of PAT.

The two day Conference is being inaugurated by Bureau of Energy Efficiency Chief. The Guests of Honour include Dr.Jens Burgotorf, Program Director, IGEN (GIZ) and Dr.V.Balasubramaniyam, ED (P), NALCO.

Around eighteen technical papers are being presented at the Conference by experts related to energy efficiency under PAT scheme and related areas. There will be more than 50 participants from various organizations like SESA Sterlite Industry, GIZ, Indo-German Energy Program (IGEN), National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO), Aditya Birla Ltd. Maharashtra Energy Development Authority (MEDA) and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) etc.

According to Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Chairman of the Organizing Committee & Director, JNARDDC, this Conference is being held at an appropriate point of time when the economic down turn with LME price is not supporting the primary producers leaving no choice for them than to improve the energy performance for optimizing cost of production and also to reduce the impact on environment and depleting natural resources. Dr Agnihotri is confident that Aluminium Industries will extend whole hearted cooperation to JNARDDC and BEE in formulating and following the norms and guidelines for the successful implementation of PAT Scheme of the Government of India which is in overall interest of the Country and its citizens.

All the industry executives are agreed to implement PAT scheme in their organization to reduce the energy for benefits of industry and the environment.

Mr. Balasubramaniam (ED- Production ) NALCO focused on collaborative R& D efforts with JNARDDC to develop tools and techniques in reduction of energy and also to increase efficiency of the process.