Siadow | Realty sector set to step up use of Aluminium !
The property developers in the country are expected to consume about 10,000 million tonnes of aluminium in the next five years.
“About five to six big developers, including the Prestige Group, will be consuming aluminium in large quantity. This is a huge leap from the existing consumption level in building and construction sector,” said V Gopal, Executive Director (Projects & Planning), Prestige Group, while addressing the Aluminium Association of India’s (AAI) meet on ‘Aluminium in Building and Construction’.
SHORTCOMINGS
However, a few shortcomings of the aluminium industry were hampering growth, Gopal said. “The absence of standard quotes for aluminium extrusions; the delay in casting dyes and the lack of interest among global investors in the Indian aluminium market are hampering its growth.”
“The real estate sector has understood the value of aluminium over the years. This is something that the Central government and the AAI have to address in the long term,” he said.
The AAI organised the meet in an effort to encourageincreased use of aluminium in buildings/architecture, and construction industry.
In India, the electrical sector is the biggest consumer of aluminium, accounting for about 41 per cent. The packaging industry (which includes beverages and packed food) accounts for 8 per cent, against the global standard of 15 per cent.
ROADBLOCKS TO GO
According to AAI, the Union government has agreed to clear all the roadblocks, such as delay in allocation of captive coal blocks, declaring aluminium clusters in a systematic manner to enable the growth for the metal.
KSS Murthy, AAI General Secretary, said the association is aware of the issues raised by property developers. “We are addressing these issues in a phased manner. We can assure you that all such issues will be resolved in the next five years. The Government has taken several positive steps in this direction,” he asserted.
CHINA VS. INDIA
A Jayagopal, Chairman, SEP Committee, AAI, observed that India had the potential to match China, the world’s largest aluminium consumer, accounting for 30.2 per cent of the total produced at the global level. “Unfortunately, India accounts for a mere 2.56 per cent of the global consumption. In China, the building and construction sector consumes 35 per cent whereas in India, it is 10 per cent. There is tremendous scope to scale up consumption in India,” he stated.
Source: Business Line