'Introduce Cobots, Or Cooperative Robots'

As the host-in-chief of INCAL 2019, Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, National Aluminium Company (NALCO), was at the centre of all attention at the three-day global conference. He took time off his busy schedule to discuss a host of issues in the industry, including value addition, downstream, and the road ahead. Excerpts from the interview:

What was the idea behind having this conference in Bhubaneswar?

As you know, Odisha is endowed with rich bauxite deposits. More than 60% of aluminium and alumina in the country is produced here. Since it is at the centre of aluminum, we thought it would be appropriate to have this international conference here. The second reason is that the focus of the aluminium industry currently is on downstream industries, which Odisha doesn’t have. The idea was to bring the aluminium producers and technology suppliers to the state so that they could have discussions with local entrepreneurs and producers.

Was any agreement signed or arrived at during INCAL 7 for technical or commercial collaboration between the various players?

This conference has given a huge opportunity for B2B dealings. Participants engaged in finding business partners, collaborating and cooperating with them, and striking business deals. There was no scope for signing MoUs since it was not a B2G summit but a B2B conclave. Many of these organisations, equipment suppliers and technology providers, producers and customers have been engaged in discussions and are finding their partners. Nalco too found partners in wire rod mill and technology for downstream industries. The conference provided a good platform to assess the technology available and find out the technology that could provide solutions to many of the issues that are emerging in the area of production or processing.

In his opening address, the Union Mines Secretary Mr. Anil Mukim emphasised the need to make use of red mud since it has substantial iron content. Was there any deliberation on it?