National Seminar
on
“Sustainable Growth of Mineral Sector” (SGMS-2017)
(23rd -24th December 2017)
Venue: Golden Jubilee Lecture Theater, IIT(ISM), Dhanbad

Date | Dec 24, 2017:

A two day National Seminar on “Sustainable Growth of Mineral Sector” (SGMS-2017) was organized in Golden Jubilee Lecture Theatre of Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad.

The concept of sustainable development is now a widely used term in many areas of activity related to the life of man. The implementation of sustainable development means the integration of activities in the following three key areas:-

• Technical and economic activities which will enhance economic growth
• Ecological balance which will lead to protection of natural resources and the environment
• Social development, signifying care for the employee at the workplace and community development in the surrounding area.

India has long been recognised as a nation well-endowed in natural mineral resources. The country is ranked 4th amongst the mineral producer countries, following China, United States and Russia, on the basis of volume of production. The country produces as many as 87 minerals, which includes 4 fuel minerals, 10 metallic minerals, 47 non-metallic minerals, 3 atomic minerals and 23 minor minerals (including building and other materials).

The fuel, mineral and the metal prices are volatile in a very competitive market. The decreasing profitability is becoming a challenge and requires mass production to reduce the mining cost. On the other hand the sector is struggling to exploit the potential due to three big factors i.e. regulatory and administrative procedures, inadequate infrastructure facilities and the most importantly sustainability. These challenges have limited the overall investment in mining and exploration activities in India, as evident from very low inflow of FDI in the mining sector.

In the present globally competitive environment, the mining industry must work on new financial strategies, aggressive exploration development programs, investment-friendly policies and regulatory framework, value addition of minerals and the use of productivity enhancing technologies.

With this view Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) Dhanbad has organized the National seminar which intended to welcome industry experts, policy makers and professional managers to share information and exchange views on opportunity and challenges ahead of the mineral sector. This sector has to adopt sustainability as a core agenda in true spirit for a long term value creation for the economy and all stakeholders.

Topics in the 1st and 2nd Technical Sessions of the Seminar:-

• Exploration and resource estimation
• Technological innovation in coal and non-coal mining sector
• Petroleum industry: past present and future
• Investment opportunity in earth science sector
• Challenges in sustainable development and way ahead

On the 2nd Day a field visit was arranged in Gokul Park, Lodna Area followed by mine visit and plantation activity in Lodna as well in IIT(ISM) Campus. Both the days in the evening hours there was cultural program where the participants and ISM-93 Silver Jubilee Batch discussed and met each other.

Delegates Attended:-

Dr,Biswajit Paul, Associate Professor, Environmental Science and Engineering Department was the Convener of this Mega-Event.
Dr.Sunil Kumar Barnwal, IAS, IAS, Secretary to CM, Jharkhand, Dept of Mines & Geology, Industry & Chief Guest of Inaugural Session,
Shri Narmadeswar Lal, IAS, Divisional Commissioner Saran, Chapra, Bihar, (Guest of Honour).
Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, CMD BCCL , (Guest of Honour)
Prof R.Venugopal, IIT(ISM) , (Guest of Honour),
Shri Peeyush Kumar, Director Technical, Ministry of Coal, Govt of India ) Organizing Secretary).
Shri S.S.Prasad, Director, DGMS, Dhanbad
Shri Bijesk Kr Jha, Vice President, Hindalco Industries Ltd,
Shri Rana Pratap Singh, Vice President, JSW Steels Ltd,
Shri Sandeep Juneja, Vice President (Commercial), DHL Express (I) Pvt Ltd.
Shri Amitabh Ranjan, Registrar, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi
Shri K.R.Singh, Vice President Adani Enterprises Limited.
Delegates from USA, Hong Kong, Dubai, Bahrain and many other countries also attended the program.

In the valedictory ceremony Shri P.K. Sarkar, Director General, DGMS was the Chief Guest and Shri Debal Gangopadhyay, Director Technical (P&P), BCCL, (Guest of Honour) and Professor J.Manam, Dean (Student Welfare), IIT(ISM).

Sponsors:-

The delegates were sponsored by Coal India Limited, BCCL, NCL, ECL, SECL, DGMS. While Organizations like Hindalco Industries Limited, Adani Enterprises Limited was the Diamond Sponsorers, Balco Vedanta, JSW Steels, DHL was Gold Sponsorers and SECL was the Silver Sponsorer.

Some Glimpses from the National Seminar- Sustainable Growth of Mineral Sector (SGMS-2017) :