Growing application of aluminium leading to reduction in vehicular pollution: TK Chand

KOLKATA: The growing application of aluminium in auto components, has improved fuel-efficiency leading to reduction in vehicular pollution TK Chand, Chairman and managing director of National Aluminium Company ( Nalco). Replacement of 1 kg of heavy metal by aluminium reduces carbon dioxide emission by 22 kg during the lifecycle of a vehicle, he said. Mr Chand was speaking on the sidelines of an International Auto Fest, which was inaugurated on Friday in Bhubaneswar.

"While the developed countries use on an average 140 kg of aluminium per vehicle, in India it is about 40 kg. Nevertheless, by 2016, the use of this lightweight metal in auto sector in India is expected to go up by at least 3 times," Chand said.

"Initially, aluminium gained a foothold in wheels and transmission casings. Now, it is widely used in hoods, trunks, doors, bumpers and other structures. Breakthroughs in welding technology have opened up further vistas of possibilities," Chand elaborated. "Significantly, at the end of a vehicle’s life, nearly 90% of the aluminium is recyclable," he added.

Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Minister, Health & Family Welfare and I&PR and Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Minister, Commerce & Transport, government of Odisha also addressed the inaugural ceremony of the four-day Auto Fest.