Page 13 - Steel Metallurgy eMagazine Volume June 2024

FACE TO FACE

NM: As you are aware the Indian
refractory industry is highly dependent
on China for meeting its raw material
needs. As a part of our Atmanirbhar
Bharat initiative the government of
India is trying its best to reduce our
dependence on China and make India
self reliant. To this end what are your
suggestions and recommendations?

AS: I note your question about the
Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the
initiative of the government of India,
and our dependence on China for supply
to the Indian refractory industry of raw
materials, and also refractory bricks.
all products. We have had a journey
that's covered a large part of the world I understand the concerns and the need
and I would say, we have dealt with for self-reliance, but I would like to say,
many producers. We dealt with QMAG in a world that's gone global, and if you
through Possehl. This is going back a recall, there was a term coined, which I
long, long time. We were the agents don't see anywhere now, or I don't hear
for SADAMAG, Italy, and we supplied I think the good thing is that about it, things change of course, times
their sea water magnesite from their we have built a reputation, do too, the term was GLOCAL. Now that
operations in Sicily to OCL, to Tata, and I think that is far more had a lot of meaning, but I'm afraid with
to Vizag Steel Plants etc, and we were important than how large the way things are today, I don't want to
doing, about 30,000 tonnes a year which you are, and how big you are comment on that.
was very successful until they closed.
and where you are in the The question of self-reliance must also be
Then of course, Magnesita Brazil, which hierarchy of those who deal viewed in terms of the fact that we are
started in 1978, my first meeting there in these materials." one world. After all, no one, no country
with Dr. Helio Pentagna Guimaraes, and no person ever produces everything
the founder and then president and the that he or she or the country needs.
owner of Magnesita Brazil, and lots of It doesn't matter who and it doesn't
old friends, and, in fact, I have two of matter where. We're all interdependent,
their managers working for me in my Chinese refractory materials around the but unfortunately with the way things
Brazil office now. world. In the last 10 years or so we have are today, this self-reliance matter has
Then in 1990 came the Chinese been supplying bricks and some other become important.
refractory raw materials into world products to the Indian market, and today
markets, and Possehl whom I'd met at we have developed this business and sell I'm not saying no to that, but it does not
several conferences around the world, in the Middle East. We also have offices mean that we start, you know, shunning
approached me to ask whether I would now in Europe, and we also dealt with or refusing to cooperate, because
be interested in working with them for Maaden, the Saudi company, selling their remember what will happen then, that
raw materials from China for the Indian material to Siam Refractories for many if everybody was to become, or attempt
market. It was difficult at that time as the years. to become self-reliant, we'd be miserable
Chinese did not speak very much English and it would be a disaster. So I think
and getting visas was very difficult. I'm happy with where we are, it's up to we have to understand the needs for
Possehl too, were operating out of their my daughters and my grandchildren self-reliance, where we need to be self-
office in Hong Kong, so I agreed and now, where they take it, what they want reliant, which areas, and if you talk of

made several trips to Hong Kong. In fact to do with it, and I think the good thing manufacturing and production, then
I spent, I think, half my life in Hong Kong is that we have built a reputation, and which areas are crucial and, therefore,
and Japan in the 1980s, where I was there I think that is far more important than very necessary for greater self-reliance.
at least 50 times, doing various materials, how large you are, and how big you are
ores, textile etc. In 1995 I set up my own and where you are in the hierarchy of The whole of LATAM is largely
offices in China, and today we supply all those who deal in these materials. agricultural and mining based

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