About the Author

A metallurgical engineer from Banaras Hindu University, Amit Chatterjee was awarded the Doctorate of Science (Engineering) Degree by the University of London in 1988 for his outstanding work on coal-based direct reduction and oxygen steelmaking. He had earlier obtained his Ph.D. in Process Metallurgy from the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, of which he is also a Fellow. For his contribution in the area of oxygen steelmaking and direct reduction, Dr. Chatterjee has been hailed as The King of Direct Reduction; some have opined that he is not the King but the Emperor of Direct Reduction. He started his professional career in the steel industry in Germany, followed by over 39 years of distinguished service in Tata Steel, from where he superannuated in late 2011. Dr. Chatterjee is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, England, The Indian Institute of Metals, India as well as The Indian National Academy of Engineers, India. He has over 550 publications to his credit and is the recipient of several awards from India and overseas including the National Metallurgist Award (1977), Visvesvaraya Gold Medal (1981 and 1996), SAIL Gold Medal (1982), Bhoruka Gold Medal (1992), Tata Gold Medal (1997), Platinum Medal (2002) and many others. Dr. Chatterjee has authored several books: Ironmaking and Steelmaking-Theory and Practice and Hot Metal Production by Smelting Reduction of Iron Oxide (both published by PHI Learning) as well as two other books entitled Beyond the Blast Furnace and Metallics for Steelmaking-Production and Use besides a number of Monographs on Cokemaking, Sintermaking, Ironmaking, Continuous Casting, etc. Dr. Chatterjee is recognised all over the world as an authority in the field of process metallurgy, particularly in the area of direct reduction and other alternative methods of iron production.