Jamshedpur, Feb. 27: Skilled manpower would be a major challenge for the steel industry in the days to come. This was the opinion steel majors from across the globe shared at the Tata auditorium, XLRI, during STEELRISE, an international conference on steel industry, that started today.

Organised by Calcutta-based New Wave Display Services Private Limited in association with Tata Steel and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, over 50 major global steel makers are participating in the three-day event. 

This is the first time that an event of this magnitude in the steel industry is being held here. “We would need more skilled manpower (read engineers) if the industry has to prosper. Today, premier institutes do not teach iron and steel production and youngsters are not interested in the subject. Therefore, more engineers need to be trained to meet up the growing market demands,” said H.M. Nerurkar, the chief operating officer of Tata Steel. Over 400 delegates are attending the international conclave.

Senior metallurgist and advisor to Tata Steel, managing director B. Muthura- man and chairman organising committee, SteelRise, Amit Chatterjee too shared Nerurkar’s view. “At least 2,000 engineers would be required for every metric tonne increase in the steel industry,” said Chatterjee.

A special trialogue on the same topic between institutes, employees and students would also be organised tomorrow.

The seminar would discuss the areas that would be crucial for the Indian industry to achieve the target of 180 million tonne of steel production by 2020. “Issues such as safety and environment, education, corporate social responsibility are a must concern for every steel industry. To set up a steel industry these are factors must be considered,” said Nerurkar. B. Muthuraman, who was supposed to be the chief guest for today’s event, however, could not make it at the last moment. Nerurkar read out his statements.

Muthuraman said: “I expect the steel consumption of India to grow at 10-15 per cent annually.” Several paper presentations and sessions were held. An exhibition was also organised by some of the world leaders in steel making.