The Executive Chairman of McDan Group of Companies, Dr Daniel McKorley has proposed the establishment of a global consortium of salt producers, distributors, and pharmaceutical companies to facilitate knowledge sharing, streamline supply chains, and mitigate potential shortages.
Dr McKorley made the call when addressed the ongoing International Conference on Advances in Salt and Marine Chemicals: Brine Mining, Purification, and Resource Recovery (ICASMC-2024) at CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, India.
McDan as he is affectionally known chaired the first session of the world’s biggest salt conference, where he delivered a highly acclaimed speech focusing on the global salt scenario, salt production technologies, and transport logistics.
He emphasized the crucial role the commodity plays in various industries, particularly, the pharmaceutical sector and urged the need for collaboration among key stakeholders to ensure a stable supply of pharmaceutical sodium chloride.
Dr McKorley also urged the urgent need for stakeholders to embrace technological advancements in the salt industry whiles calling for investing in research and development to develop innovative salt harvesting techniques, such as automated mining, drone technology, and advanced purification methods among others.
According to him, these advancements would not only ensure efficiency and productivity but also minimize the environmental impact of salt production.
Regarding transport logistics, Dr. McKorley urged the exploration of sustainable transport solutions.
He recommended the electrification of transportation fleets, the utilization of renewable energy for logistics, and the implementation of smart logistics systems to optimize routes and reduce carbon emissions.
These measures he indicated would contribute to meeting demand efficiently and cost-effectively while prioritizing environmental sustainability.
Dr. McKorley highlighted the emergence of new salt sources from brine mining and recovery and suggested partnerships with brine mining companies to tap into this potential.
Additional, he encouraged exploring innovative applications for salt products beyond traditional markets including salt as a renewable energy storage medium and exploring its potential in the field of biotechnology.
Dr. McKorley also underscored the vast potential of solar salt and marine chemicals technologies for sustainable salt production and resource recovery.
He called for increased support for research and development initiatives to enhance the efficiency and scalability of solar salt production methods.
Additionally, Dr. McKorley advocated the utilization of marine chemicals for value-added products, such as algae-based biofuels and pharmaceutical-grade compounds derived from marine sources.
Dr. McKorley emphasized the importance of collective attention to the global salt scenario, production technologies, and transport logistics, and called for continued collaboration and innovation to shape a future where the salt industry thrives, meets global demand, and ensures the well-being of the planet.
With his visionary ideas and commitment to sustainability, Dr. McKorley’s presence at the conference is instrumental in advancing the industry as a whole.
Participants have been inspired by his call for collective action and are eagerly looking forward to implementing his proposed measures to create a sustainable future for the salt industry.
The desire for collaboration and innovation, ignited by Dr. McKorley’s speech, is expected to drive significant progress in salt production, distribution, and application worldwide.
Dr McKorley gained worldwide recognition for his contributions to the salt industry through his salt company, Electrochem Ghana limited which recently commissioned Africa’s largest Salt Mine and processing Plant at Ada in the Greater Accra region of Ghana.
