19 August 2022; Vapi, Gujarat: To enhance productivity and innovation and explore ways to control odour in the Indian paper industry, a workshop was organized as part of a DPIIT-UNIDO project on Firm-level demonstration of technologies and productivity enhancement for the pulp and paper industry. The workshop, organized in collaboration with Central Pulp and Paper Research Institute (CPPRI), also shared findings from the project interventions for promotion of appropriate technologies and practices for enhancing the sustainability and productivity in Indian paper mills.
Under the ongoing project, significant interventions have been made in enhancing the productivity of paper mills through implementation of productivity enhancement measures; pilot demonstration of technologies for membrane filtration for waste water treatment and Black Liquor Heat Treatment for improved energy efficiency in paper industry; and odour control in paper mills, thereby improving the product quality, productivity and sustainability of paper mills.
The workshop was received with great interest among stakeholders – the paper mills and technology suppliers. Elaborating on the project, Dr. René Van Berkel, UNIDO Representative, Regional Office India stated that the current project was being implemented to promote and scale up ISID practices, techniques, and policies. He also emphasized the importance of the initiatives undertaken as part of the project in bringing inclusive and sustainable growth to the Indian paper industry.
Dr. R. K Jain, a technical expert at UNIDO, presented the findings of odour control technology that have been successfully demonstrated at identified mills. He also informed the participants of the effectiveness and fiscal feasibility of the technology, which have received an impressive response by the mills. He further stated that the technology not only improves the aesthetic value but also improves the environmental health and boosts the export potential.
A.K. Shah, Chairman, Shah paper mills, Vapi said that UNIDO’s technical support through the ongoing project has greatly benefitted the Vapi paper cluster by addressing the issues of water and wastewater management besides productivity enhancement. He appreciated the odour control initiative and appealed to the paper mills to implement the technologies in their mills.
Sunil Aggarwal, MD, Gajanan and President GPMA and Lalit Garg, MD, Ramji paper and Hon. Secy, GPMA complimented UNIDO for the enhanced productivity in Ramji paper and boards and re-iterated the long-term benefits and replication potential of the activities in other mills in the Vapi paper cluster.
Dr. M. K. Gupta, Director, CPPRI emphasised that activities carried out as part of the UNIDO paper project would greatly benefit not only the paper units in the Vapi paper cluster but across the country. He also said that agro-waste utilization has huge potential as raw material for pulp making.
Kusum B. Kumawat, GPCB stated that the innovative technology for wastewater management, energy efficiency, and odour control would complement the paper sector in addressing the environmental issues and challenges.
Ms. Shradha Gupta, UNIDO mentioned that the project has helped in strengthening the local manufacturing capacity and giving a competitive advantage to indigenous manufacturing in the international paper market.
Finish Experts, CPPRI senior scientists, and NPC made the technical presentation during the workshop on project-related activities in the area of productivity, energy efficiency, and wastewater treatment with advanced technology relevant to the Indian context.
