Introduction
Nickel is one of the few items of which entire national needs are met from imports.
The present annual consumption of nickel in India is around 20,000 MT. At the current international price of Rs. 2.3 lacs/Tonnes, about Rs. 460 crores of Foreign Exchange outflow is on account of Nickel imports. The present International Nickel price is US $ 7400/Tonne which works out to Rs. 2.3 lacs at current exchange rate. The landed cost inclusive of Duties to the actual user is around Rs. 380/kg. India’s consumption is about 2.33% of the World Nickel production. Of the total imports, 70% of Nickel is imported from USSR and rest from Canada, Japan and Norway.
At this juncture when our country is facing hard currency crisis, it is very pertinent on the part of TIFAC to explore possibilities for evolving technologies for recycling of Nickel, used in Electroplating, Electroforming and Electrolysis processes carried out in industries. On the basis of the research objectives, assigned by TIFAC, the assignment was carried out during July and November 1991, and the report is being presented.
Scope of the Assignment
As specified by TIFAC, the assignment was to cover Techno-Market Survey on technologies for recycling and reuse of Nickel in Electroplating, Electroforming and Electrolysis industries. It was observed that this sector of industry consumes about 20% of the total Nickel imported in the country, i.e. about 4,000 tonnes per year. Out of this total consumption, about 4% is broadly considered as going waste in the form of sludge, spent wash, Nickel containing solutions, et. It is possible to partly recover Nickel and recycle Nickel containing solutions so as to ultimately reduce relative Nickel consumption in these industries. Even at the initial stage, 25% of the total Nickel going as waste if recovered or recycled, means 40 tonnes of Nickel imports could be reduced at the current consumption levels. This would mean net foreign exchange saving of Rs. 92.0 Lacs. This could be accomplished b y appropriate use of recycling and recovery technologies in select high consumption concerns as well creating group recovery and recycling centres as select locations where several small scale electroplating units are existing.
Methodology
This research was carried out to assess the exact need for recycling and reuse opportunities in India, technologies available in the world and technology status in India, etc., by conducting an exhaustive study based on primary and secondary sources during the assignment.
The primary data was collected by interviewing several technologies in user industries, Research Institutions, product manufacturers and secondary data by referring to publications and research papers available on the subject & related to the subject. The list of persons contacted and secondary sources referred, are mentioned in Annexure I. on completion of draft report a Focus Group Discussion on the subject was arranged at Pune o 21st December 1991. In this discussion the representatives of five concerns participated. The findings of this discussion have been incorporated in the final report. The draft reports was reviewed by the panel of experts through TIFAC and their suggestions have also been incorporated. Back
