Discusses Challenges and Opportunities in the Mineral Sector
Inaugurating ODICHEM-2024, the Chief Guest, Dr. Raghavendra Tewari, Outstanding Scientist & Director of Materials Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre outlined the energy scenario in India and the changing role of critical minerals. The Guest of Honor, Shri Pankaj Kumar, Deputy Director General of the Geological Survey of India, presented a clear geological picture of Odisha to the audience, highlighting the possibility of industrial development, especially related to the critical minerals.
Bhubaneswar Regional Centre of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE-BRC) and CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT), Bhubaneswar, organized ODICHEM-2024 on the theme “Technological Challenges in the Mineral Sector” on 18-19th October 2024 at ITC Welcomhotel, Bhubaneswar. Around 200 delegates from industries, academia, and R&D organizations attended the seminar. There were many presentations primarily focused on the challenges and opportunities in the mineral sector, with an emphasis on critical minerals, as well as ferrous and non-ferrous minerals.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Omkar Nath Mohanty, Director, Technology & Academic Initiative, RSB Metaltech., RSB Group, Pune, delivered his keynote address on “Sustainable Steel Production in India an Appraisal: Focus on utilization of solid by-products.” He outlined the challenges of meeting the growing demand for steel production, including securing critical raw materials, sourcing energy and water, optimizing mine operations, and minimizing environmental impact. Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, Director, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar, narrated the industry-oriented research activities taken up by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and CSIR-IMMT, particularly for the mineral sector.
Recovery of Rare Earth
Dr. R. N. Patra, the former Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Rare Earth Limited, discussed the challenges and issues related to recovering rare earth elements from various components of end-of-life equipment. He also compared this recovery process and the extraction of these elements from mined ore, highlighting the significance of industrial recycling in achieving a net-zero economy.
P. K. Misra, Chief Manager (Technical) at Indian Rare Earths Limited, in his talk titled “Rare Earth – A Plethora of Opportunities” provided an overview of the current state of the rare earth industry in India, discussing both the challenges and opportunities present in this niche segment.
Extraction of Lithium
Manasa Prasad Mishra, former Director of P&T at NALCO, and Dr. Shivakumar I. Angadi, Principal Scientist in the Mineral Processing Division of CSIR-IMMT in Bhubaneswar, addressed the challenges associated with extracting lithium from primary sources. Additionally, Dr. Chidambaram Mandan, Vice President and Head of R&D and Quality Control at LOHUM focused on the recovery of lithium from secondary resources. The technological challenges associated with uranium processing and the sustainable recovery of rare earth elements are crucial for minimizing environmental impact. The speaker from UCIL (Uranium Corporation of India Limited), Raja Sinha, highlighted the technological challenges in Uranium Material processing.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, D. P. Misra, a veteran Chemical Engineer of Odisha and a consultant to many chemical industries, welcomed all the industry leaders, associations, and their members, especially the investors from the mineral sectors, to come and explore Odisha as their next investment destination.
Second Distinguished Lecture Honour
IIChE-BRC instituted the first Foundation Day Lecture titled “Er. D. P. Misra Distinguished Oration” in September 2023, to honour the immense contributions of Er. D. P. Misra to the chemical sector over several decades. For 2024, the second distinguished lecture honor in the series was conferred upon Ashwin Shroff. He is the Executive Chairman of Excel Industries Ltd, Mumbai. The event took place during ODICHEM-2024. He is a doyen of the chemical and biotech industries. Shroff is widely recognized for his contributions to the growth of the Indian chemical industry. He received the ICC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Innovations in Minerals & Mining
Dr. Kali Sanjay is the Chief Scientist and Head of the Hydro and Electrometallurgy Department at CSIR-IMMT in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. He emphasized the importance of nickel and cobalt as strategic opportunities to enhance India’s resource security. Innovations in automation and digitalization are transforming the mining industry. Meanwhile, the primary copper sector in India is adopting cutting-edge technologies to improve efficiency and sustainability.
Other speakers included: Dr. Xolisa Camagu Goso, Head of Pyrometallurgy at MINTEK, South Africa, discussed advancements in processing platinum group elements (PGEs), showcasing South Africa’s leadership in this field. Dr. Amit Chatterjee, former Chief R&D Officer at Vedanta Ltd., spoke on innovations in sustainable steel production. Dr. P.K. Banerjee, Outstanding Scientist at CSIR-CIMFR, highlighted the challenges of Indian coal’s high ash content and the need for advanced beneficiation techniques.
The global movement towards sustainability and energy security has highlighted a crucial issue. Critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements (REEs) and battery metals, have become vitally important. India, rich in diverse mineral resources, is actively confronting the complex challenge of lithium recovery. However, the challenges include the need for advanced techniques to efficiently extract these valuable minerals.
ODICHEM-2024 successfully addressed the technological challenges and opportunities in the mineral sector, focusing on sustainability and advanced extraction technologies. The seminar highlighted the importance of innovative solutions for resource management and environmental responsibility. It emphasized Odisha’s role as a key player in India’s mineral landscape.
