Kolkata,23 October 2024
Mining sectors lays the foundation for the growth of the Indian Economy, driving the States’ manufacturing growth to 7.2 percent
In the period between April and November of 2023, State Manufacturing sector grew at 7.2 percent against the national manufacturing growth rate of 5.8 percent, said Mr Moloy Ghatak, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Law Department, Government of West Bengal, at the Global Mining Summit 2024, initiated by CII, today in Kolkata. With the theme “Viksit Bharat: Role of a Sustainable Mining Industry” the summit delves into the significant growth and emerging trends within the Indian mining sector.
Besides Global Mining Summit, CII also organised the 17th edition of International Mining and Machinery Exhibition (IMME) 2024. GMS and IMME has been organised, in association with Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Steel. Government of Odisha is the Partner State, and the event is supported by West Bengal Mineral Development Corporation. The Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (ICEMA) is the Sector Partner and Australia is the Partner Country at IMME 2024.
Talking about the mining sector of West Bengal, Mr Moloy Ghatak mentioned the approval of the mining plan for the Gourangdih ABC Coal Mine in Paschim Bardhhaman district with a potential of extractable coal deposit of approximately 62 million tonnes. He further highlighted that Deocha-Pachami-Dewanganj-Harinsingha, a proposed coal mine in Birbhum district of West Bengal, if completed, would be the world’s second largest coal mine. He said that Government of West Bengal is committed to ensuring that mining is environmentally sustainable, scientifically sound, and socially responsible.
Mr Ujjwal Tah, Director General, Directorate General of Mines Safety informed the gathering about the constant depletion of mineral resources and advocated for the conservation of mineral. He advocated for the increase in R & D investment in deep sea mining and further emphasized the need for larger mining companies to support smaller players in transitioning towards sustainable mining practices.
Talking about the potential collaboration between India and Australia in mining of critical minerals, Ms Denise Eaton, Trade and Investment Commissioner Green, Economy South Asia, Austrade solicited for a holistic approach towards green economy and urged the industry to ensure a balance between productivity, safety and environment.
While talking about the smart green mining, Mr Shantanu Roy, Chairman & Managing Director, BEML underscored the necessity for opting green technology by leveraging automation. He applauded the success of PM Gati Shakti and the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) and urged for the necessity of the national green mining policy. He said that government should encourage the public- private partnership and urged for the investment in R&D in electrical mining vehicles.
Mr Arun Misra, Chairman, CII National Committee on Mining and CEO, Hindustan Zinc Ltd, stated that from an environment standpoint, the mining sector is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how India can achieve the aspirations in minerals while nurturing and conserving our environment. He further emphasised the importance of creating an investor-friendly ecosystem to attract more investments, enabling the development of the necessary infrastructure to fully tap into the potential of critical minerals.
Mr B Thiagarajan, Chairman, CII Trade Fair Council and Managing Director, Blue Star Ltd spoke on the importance of IMME platform which provides opportunity to showcase advancements, exchange ideas, and create meaningful collaborations across the mining ecosystem. Together, industry professionals, policymakers, manufacturers, and service providers can unlock new business opportunities that will drive the sector forward. The next edition will immensely grow in size and promising for an unprecedented showcase of innovation and opportunity. This growth not only enhances the experience for visitors but also provides exhibitors with a larger platform to connect, collaborate, and explore new business prospects.
Mr S K Behera, Chairman, CII Eastern Region and Vice Chairman & Managing Director, RSB Transmissions Ltd, observed that eastern region has the largest share in the national mineral production. India boasts significant reserves of iron ore, bauxite, chromium, manganese ore, baryte, rare earth, and mineral salts. Mineral production in India has shown a robust growth from US $ 9.7 billion in FY19 to US $ 14.23 billion in FY23.
India will become the second-largest market in the MCE industry, reaching a market size of $25 billion by 2030 said Mr Vivek Bhatia, Chairman, CII MCED and Managing Director and CEO, TKIL Industries Pvt Ltd. He further highlighted that the mining sector contributes 7%-8% of greenhouse gas emissions and recommended adopting new technologies to significantly reduce the environmental impact of mining operations. Additionally, he called for collaboration with educational institutions to upskill and train the workforce.
Sustainability is critical necessity for the mining sector said Mr V G Sakthikumar, Treasurer, ICEMA and Managing Director Schwing Stetter India Pvt Ltd. He further urged that recycling and waste management are the key for ensuring sustainability in mining sector.
(L-R) : Mr Vivek Bhatia, Chairman, CII Mining and Construction Equipment Division & Managing Director and CEO, TKIL Industries Pvt Ltd; Ms Denise Eaton, Trade and Investment Commissioner Green Economy South Asia, Austrade ; Mr Shantanu Roy, Chairman & Managing Director, BEML; Mr Arun Misra, Chairman, CII National Committee on Mining and CEO, Hindustan Zinc Ltd; Mr Ujjwal Tah, Director General , Directorate General of Mines Safety ; Mr Moloy Ghatak, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Law Department, Government of West Bengal; Mr S K Behera, Chairman, CII Eastern Region and Vice Chairman & Vice Chairman and Managing Director, RSB Transmissions Ltd; Mr B Thiagarajan, Chairman, CII Trade Fair Council and Managing Director, Blue Star Ltd, Mr V G Sakthikumar, Treasurer, ICEMA & Chairman & Managing Director, Schwing Stetter India Pvt Ltd ; Mr Thomas M Cherian, Co-Chairman, CII National Committee on Mining and Managing Director, Essel Mining & Industries Ltd; Mr Virendra Gupta, Deputy Director, CII IHC
