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Tag: Chandigarh

Tata Steel and Welspun Corp Successfully Manufacture Pipes for Pure Hydrogen Transportation

Chandigarh, August 3, 2024: Tata Steel, a leading global steel company, and Welspun Corp, one of the largest manufacturers of line pipes globally, achieved the significant milestone of developing Hydrogen compliant API X65 grade pipes which successfully surpassed all necessary critical sour service and fracture qualification tests for transportation of 100% pure gaseous Hydrogen under high pressure (100 bar) at RINA, Italy.

With this development, Tata Steel becomes the first Indian steel mill to produce hot-rolled steel for the transportation of gaseous hydrogen and Welspun Corp has become the first Indian pipe mill to produce Electric Resistance Welded (ERW) pipes.

The Green Energy Strategic Partnership between Tata Steel and Welspun Corp was set up to assess the suitability of a variety of pipes manufactured by Welspun Corp for the transportation of Hydrogen. This partnership is synchronous with the Government of India’s (GOI) green hydrogen policy.

Prabhat Kumar, Vice President, Marketing & Sales (Flat Products), Tata Steel, said: “We are proud to achieve this milestone in partnership with Welspun Corp since it marks a critical advancement in our journey towards clean energy solutions. Through this, we are laying the groundwork for a more robust infrastructure and ecosystem necessary for the widespread adoption of green hydrogen, thereby encouraging the transition to a greener and more sustainable future.”

Commenting on this development, Vipul Mathur, Managing Director & CEO, Welspun Corp Limited (WCL) said, “WCL is continuously working towards strengthening its expanding product portfolio across the Pipe Solutions and Building Materials segments, both in India and globally while being mindful towards building a future-ready world. Our strategic partnership with Tata Steel enables us to jointly adopt and build awareness towards the usage of Green Hydrogen in our daily lives. This endeavor is in line with our ongoing efforts to strategically embed ESG drivers across our businesses, and the Government’s vision for a net-zero economy by 2070.”

The journey began in 2022 when Tata Steel and Welspun Corp entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop hydrogen-compliant API grade pipes through the ERW Pipe route.

Additionally, in October 2022, the Longitudinal-seam Submerged Arc Welding (LSAW) pipes produced by Welspun Corp successfully passed all qualification tests, confirming their suitability for hydrogen transportation.

Tata Steel is committed to contributing to India’s journey towards industrial decarbonisation and has already taken several steps. Most recently Tata Steel partnered with SMS group to implement the pioneering Paul Wurth Coke Oven Gas (COG) Injection Technology at their Blast Furnace in Meramandali, Odisha. Last year Tata Steel initiated a trial, the first-of-its-kind globally, at its Jamshedpur Works, injecting a record-high quantity of hydrogen gas directly into one of its Blast Furnaces. Other initiatives include trials of continuous Coal Bed Methane (CBM) injection, operation of a 5-tonnes-per-day (TPD) industrial plant for carbon capture and utilisation since September 2021, increasing scrap charge in our blast furnaces and efforts to reduce freshwater consumption, develop sustainable supply chains, and embrace circular economy principles.

UK Chapter of the Alumni Association of Post Graduate Government College, Chandigarh launched

The Alumni Association of the Post Graduate Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh has ceremonially launched the UK Chapter of the Alumni Association in a programme organised at the House of Lords on 18th July 2024.

UK Chapter of the Alumni Association

Speaking on the occasion, a distinguished alumnus of the college and the Member of the House of Lords, Lord Rami Ranger said, “I am absolutely overwhelmed by the occasion and when I graduated from my Alma mater more than half a century ago, I never dreamt that our Alumni Association will one day be like the Alumni Associations of some of the greatest colleges & universities of the world”.

The launching of the Alumni Association was preceded by a tour of the British Parliament at Westminster, followed by High Tea at the august House of Lords. Thereafter, lunch was hosted in the precincts of the British Parliament by Lord Rami Ranger.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vineet Nanda, Founder Member & President Delhi Chapter of the Association & a senior corporate personality in the real estate sector, said that this is a great step forward and we shall be hosting the annual get together of the UK chapter in a befitting manner every year.

Mr. Navneet Soni IRS (Retd.), Sr. Vice President said, ”It is a momentous occasion and makes me feel proud that we have such an active Alumni Association with eminent members from all over the world”.

Mr. Maninder S. Bains IAS (Retd.), President of the Association said that on this memorable occasion we remember all our past revered principals & professors as well as all our alumni who have enriched the college in so many ways.

Mr.Yogesh Chander of the Indian Customs Service and the President of the Bombay chapter of the Association stated that our Alumni Association has active members dating from the nineteen fifties to the present day.

Mr.Jagseer S. Mann, Vice President of the Alumni Association, said that he is elated over the development.

Dr. B. P. Yadav, Principal of the PGGC 11, Chd. congratulated everyone on this red letter day.

Mr.Sukhjit S. Dhiman, also a Founder Member & General Secretary, laid emphasis on strengthening the bonds of fellowship and cooperation between the alumni to support and complement the wider aims of the institution.

In the evening, a banquet was organised at St. James Court where the alumni shared their reminiscences, nostalgic memories and ways to contribute towards the development of the alma mater so as to give full realisation to the college motto -Higher and Still Higher.

NPCI International, Central Reserve Bank of Peru Partner for Real-Time Payments

Chandigarh, June 6, 2024: NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP) have announced a partnership to enable the deployment of a UPI-like real-time payments system in Peru. This collaboration marks a significant milestone, making Peru the first country in South America to adopt the globally renowned Unified Payment Interface (UPI) technology—a symbol of India’s pioneering excellence in digital payments.

Agreement Signing Photo

This strategic partnership empowers the BCRP to establish a reliable and efficient real-time payments platform within the country. This innovative system facilitates instant payments between individuals and businesses, thereby reducing reliance on cash-based transactions and expanding the use of digital payments to Peru’s large unbanked population. UPI’s collaborative and open banking ethos enables greater connectivity and interoperability with both domestic and international payment networks and will foster innovation and resilience in the Peruvian payment ecosystem.

Commenting on this development, Mr. Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International, said, “Our partnership with the BCRP aims to strengthen Peru’s financial infrastructure, to foster economic growth. We will be working together to address our common objective of promoting digital payments, financial inclusion, cost optimization, and transparency in the payment landscape, with scope for further scalability and adaptability, to embrace future technological advancements and market demands. It also reflects on our commitment towards advancing digital public goods across the globe. Once live, Peruvian citizens will gain access to an unparalleled level of convenience, security, and efficiency in financial transactions.”

About the agreement, Mr. Julio Velarde, Governor of the BCRP, said, “We are delighted by this agreement with our new strategic partner, NPCI International. We believe this marks a significant step in strengthening and modernizing our payments system, aiming to expand access to digital payments in Peru. The support of the Reserve Bank of India has been a cornerstone of this agreement. The BCRP aims to promote financial inclusion, security, and efficiency, and to introduce new use cases in digital payments. Additionally, we consider that this new infrastructure will play a fundamental role in fostering innovation and in allowing new participants to enter the Peruvian ecosystem. This will undoubtedly offer new and accessible payment services to everyone, especially the unbanked population in Peru, complementing the existing payments industry.”

Titan & Himmotthan Empower Uttarakhand, Offset 126M Litres Water

Chandigarh, 06 June 2024: Titan Company Ltd., in collaboration with Himmotthan Society, announced a significant milestone in their joint effort to bring sustainable water solutions to the Tehri district of Uttarakhand. Under this initiative, trenches and percolation pits have been constructed across 60 villages, offsetting 126 million litres of water from an annual water deficit of 359 million litres through community participation. This project has not only increased per capita water availability from 17 to 55 litres per day but also helped reduce drudgery of women and children on an average by 3 hours daily, resulting an improved quality of life.

In response to the severe water crisis exacerbated by changing climatic conditions and the devastating Uttarakhand floods of 2013, Titan Company Ltd. partnered with Himmotthan, a Tata Trusts initiative, to solve these issues. Currently, Titan is supporting 60 villages in the Tehri district of Uttarakhand. One of the major components within the programme is “Water Next” – See Water through Climate Lens, which creates an ecosystem at the village level to gather insights of the natural resources present in the area, audit water and microclimate, and develop a water balance sheet of each village. Following this, the programme co-creates a matrix to address the water issues in a scientific and participatory manner. This is the first step towards creating Climate Resilient Himalayan Communities.

Sharing his views, Mr. C K Venkataraman, Managing Director, Titan Company Limited, said, “India is currently facing one of the most severe water crises in its history, with millions of people struggling to access clean and reliable water sources. Recognizing this urgent need, Titan Company Ltd. has been committing to addressing these challenges head-on through strategic partnerships and sustainable practices. Our collaboration with Himmotthan in the Tehri district is a testament to this commitment. By rejuvenating their traditional water resources and developing a climate resilient ecosystem for Himalayan Communities, we’ve not only alleviated water scarcity but also empowered women and transformed lives. At Titan, we believe that sustainable development is not just about addressing immediate needs but about creating a foundation for sustained outcomes.”

The initiative has had a profound impact on the daily lives of the women and children in these villages. With the reduced burden of water collection, women have been able to engage in meaningful employment, pursue education, and to be able to spend more time with their families. The increase in microclimate and soil moisture from 20% to 30% has also boosted crop production by enhancing the presence of pollinators, thus improving overall livelihoods.

Mr. N E Sridhar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Titan Company Limited, emphasized the program’s impact on community resilience, stating, “The success of the Himmotthan Water Program demonstrates the incredible potential of integrating local knowledge with sustainable practices. By enabling the women of Tehri district to take charge of their Natural resources, and water is utmost, we’ve seen a ripple effect that extends to education, health, and economic stability. This project is a powerful reminder that sustainable solutions must be inclusive and community-driven to create enduring change.”

Axis Bank Partners with VST Tillers Tractors Ltd to Offer Financial Solutions to Farmers for Farm Equipments

Chandigarh, 22 May 2024: Axis Bank, one of the leading private sector banks in India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with VST Tillers Tractors Limited (VST), India’s leading farm equipment manufacturer, to offer financial solutions to the farmers for purchasing tractors and farm mechanisation products. As per the agreement, Axis Bank will provide financial solutions to VST’s prospective customers through its extensive network of 5370+ branches spread across geography.

Axis Bank signs MoU with VST Tillers Tractors Limited

The MOU was signed by Mr. Rajesh Dhage, Business Head of Farm Mechanization, Axis Bank, and Mr. Antony Cherukara, CEO of VST Tillers Tractors Ltd in the gracious presence of Mr. Ramasawmy Gopalakrishnan, Head – Retail Assets for Bharat Banking, Axis Bank, and Mr. V T Ravindra, Managing Director of VST Tillers Tractors Ltd.

Axis Bank will leverage its extensive footprint to reach out to the farmer community to ensure that they have an easy access to credit facility for adapting farm mechanization. This partnership will enable farmers to avail hassle-free, affordable, and flexible credit facilities to transform the agricultural sector. The Bank will offer flexible repayment options, swift sanctions, and special benefits on EMI options to encourage the farmers to opt for adapting farm mechanization.

Mr. Munish Sharda, Executive Director and Head – Bharat Banking, Axis Bank, said, “It has been our constant endeavour to engage and empower rural communities and marginal farmers by providing them with the most suitable financial solutions. By partnering with VST Tillers & Tractors, we have combined forces to address various financial challenges faced by these communities, while encouraging them to adopt effective farming techniques. As we strengthen our alliance with numerous partners and pioneers from rural India, we are confident of making a positive and meaningful impact in the lives of millions of farmers across the nation.”