The Seminar was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Shree Gokul Chandra Pati, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha while Shree U. N. Behera, IAS, Development Commissioner, ACS Forest & Env. Cum Chairman, State Pollution Control Board was present there as Guest of Honour.
Inaugurating the seminar, Chief Secretary Sri Pati advised to develop a network approach among the national and international laboratories to carry on further studies about various use of algae biomass. Chief Secretary has also advised Forest and Environment department to draft a policy for upscaling use of the technology in power plants and utilization of algae biomass under climate change action plan.
Speaking on the occasion the Convener of Carbon Sequestration Seminar 2015 Prof. Ranjan R Pradhan said, “This seminar based on the benefits of adopting microalgae based sequestration from flue gas and bio refinery technologies for utilizing biomass will help the Policymakers to clearly understand the availability of sustainable and feasible technology to reduce high emission release in the region and may look forward to contain it through these technologies.”
It should be noted that India’s first biotechnology based carbon sequestration; the process of capturing waste carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources, such as thermal power plants has been successfully commissioned on a pilot-cum-demonstration basis in Odisha in March 2013 by leading public sector Navaratna Company NALCO.
The results have since been very encouraging and likely to have significant impact in the long term to fulfil the country’s commitment to reduce the rate of GHG emissions without compromising developmental goals.
Prof. Ranjan R Pradhan also the technical consultant to NALCO presented the technical outcome of the carbon Sequestration pilot project at of the seminar. The pilot project has demonstrated the feasible and sustainable route for carbon sequestration from the flue gas from thermal power plant. Shree Siddhanta Das IFS, Addl PCCF gave the Keynote address & Shree Ansuman Das, CMD, NALCO, presided over the function.
The seminar has covered all areas of emerging technologies in algal biology, biomass production, cultivation, harvesting, extraction of bio-products and econometrics.
Around 100 technologists and practitioners of National and Inter-national repute were participated and discussed subjects like ‘microalgae sustainable carbon sequestration from flue gas’, ‘microalgae mass cultivation and harvesting, extraction systems’, ‘bio-refinery and bio-products from algal biomass’, ‘life cycle analysis’ and ‘techno-economic modeling of algae based carbon sequestration systems’.
Addressing the media Mr. Siddhanta Das, IFS, Addl. Principal Conservator of Forest stated, “This seminar is likely to trigger a paradigm shift in the mindset of stakeholders for carbon sequestration and utilizing algae for a range of bio-refinery products. I also hope people in general would become more conscious of global warming, its possible impacts and ways & means handling it.” Many Industries were of the strong opinion to adopt the technology and demonstrate their commitments to emission reduction and help address, he further added.
Among others Dr. Rechard Sayre, Sr. Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory USA, Professor Toivo Kallas of Wisconsin University, USA, who are experts in the field and has been working on microalgae for more than 30 years also participated in the seminar and shared their experiences.