The Jamshedpur Local Centre of the Institution organized the Twenty-sixth National Convention of Metallurgical & Materials Engineers and National Seminar on the theme ‘Exploitation of Lean Grade Ore, Ore Fines and Urban Ores: Challenges, Problems and Solutions’, in association with CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur during January 22-23, 2013, at Jamshedpur. The Chief Guest, Dr Jae-chun Lee, Professor & Distinguished Principal Researcher, Korea Institute of Geosciences & Mineral Research, inaugurated the Convention by lighting the lamp. Dr Lee, in his inaugural address, spoke about the work carried out by his Institute at South Korea. ‘It is high time to ensure fruitful utilization of materials and recovery of value-based minerals and metals’ added Dr. Lee. Mr K K Mehrotra, CMD, Mecon Ltd & Member, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Division Board (MMDB) of the Institution, was the Guest-of-Honour and also delivered the presidential address in absence of Chair, MMDB, Prof (Dr) N R Bandyopadhyay. In his address, Mr Mehrotra stated that the contribution of mining industries towards growth of GDP of the Country needs to be improved and exploitation of lean grade ores and ore fines along with suitable beneficiation techniques can be thought of as solutions to the problem. A concerted effort on part of owners, scientific agencies and regulators could be required to improve the mineral inventory of the country added Mr Mehrotra. Dr S. Srikanth, Director, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur delivered the V Subramony Memorial Lecture on the theme ‘Sustainability of Materials - Thermodynamic, Kinetic and Environmental Dimensions’.
A State-of-the-Art lecture on the topic ‘The Utilization of Iron Ore Fines: Technical Options and Challenges’, was also delivered by Dr R C Gupta, Former Professor & Head, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi. On this occasion, two eminent engineers, namely, Dr Jae-chun Lee, and Mr H M Nerurkar (in absentia), Managing Director, Tata Steel Limited were felicitated in recognition of their eminence and contribution to the profession of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering. The IEI Young Engineers Award in the field of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Division for the year 2012-13 was presented to Dr Rahul Vaish, Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, IIT Mandi (in absentia); Mr Hemant Kumar, Scientific Officer-E, Materials Technology Division, Metallurgy and Materials Group, IGCAR, Kalpakkam; and Mr Sourav Das, Researcher, Product Research Group, R&D and SS Division, Tata Steel Ltd, Jamshedpur received. Earlier, Mr B K Das, Chairman of the Centre, welcomed the august gathering and Dr M K Jha, Convener, elaborated the theme. Dr Jha emphasized the relevance of the theme saying that there is a necessity to utilize the alternate sources of minerals like lean grade ore and ore fines. Dr A K Vaish, Organizing Secretary, proposed the Vote of Thanks. Papers on various sub-themes were presented by delegates from academia as well as industry during the various technical sessions.
A State-of-the-Art lecture on the topic ‘The Utilization of Iron Ore Fines: Technical Options and Challenges’, was also delivered by Dr R C Gupta, Former Professor & Head, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi. On this occasion, two eminent engineers, namely, Dr Jae-chun Lee, and Mr H M Nerurkar (in absentia), Managing Director, Tata Steel Limited were felicitated in recognition of their eminence and contribution to the profession of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering. The IEI Young Engineers Award in the field of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Division for the year 2012-13 was presented to Dr Rahul Vaish, Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, IIT Mandi (in absentia); Mr Hemant Kumar, Scientific Officer-E, Materials Technology Division, Metallurgy and Materials Group, IGCAR, Kalpakkam; and Mr Sourav Das, Researcher, Product Research Group, R&D and SS Division, Tata Steel Ltd, Jamshedpur received. Earlier, Mr B K Das, Chairman of the Centre, welcomed the august gathering and Dr M K Jha, Convener, elaborated the theme. Dr Jha emphasized the relevance of the theme saying that there is a necessity to utilize the alternate sources of minerals like lean grade ore and ore fines. Dr A K Vaish, Organizing Secretary, proposed the Vote of Thanks. Papers on various sub-themes were presented by delegates from academia as well as industry during the various technical sessions.