‘Critical minerals to play key role in decarbonization and achieving net zero’

Kolkata / New Delhi, Oct 25 (FN Agency) Critical minerals play a significant role in decarbonization and achieving the net zero target of India, said Dr Sudip Bhattacharyya, Deputy Director General GSI. Speaking in the 17th edition of Global Mining Summit here on Thursday, he further mentioned that the Ministry of Mines has initiated measures to accelerate the exploration of critical minerals in India. Highlighting the importance of a circular economy, he emphasized that India possesses significant deposits of critical minerals and rare earth elements, which are often lost during the mineral exploration process. Therefore, recycling mineral waste is crucial, and investment in research and development within this sector will play a key role in preserving these valuable resources, he added.

Riding on the figures that the major cause of fatal accidents in Coal Mines since last 5 years are transportation machinery (32 percent) followed by ground movement(17percent) and falls(16 percent), Mr N Bala Subrahmanyam, Director of Mines Safety (Mining), Directorate of Mines Safety said there has been a lack of vigilance and avoidance of safety laws which have led to a high fatality rate in the Indian mining. Srinivasan Ramabhadran, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, dss+, informed the gathering about the newly introduced Carbon Mapper, a public-private partnership that uses satellites to track emissions including methane emission. Michelle Burich, Senior Mining Application Engineer, Komatsu emphasized the significance of optimizing system resources and productivity. D B Sundara Ramam, Vice President (Raw Materials), Tata Steel Ltd spoke about waste utilization and improving resource use efficiency.

Senthil Kumaar T, DGM, Mining Product Sales, FLSmidth promoted the Mission Zero Mine initiative, which aims to achieve around 30 percent overall power reduction and encourage water conservation. He also highlighted the introduction of new grinding technology and the digitalization of the process flow sheet. Anoma Basu, Head (Sustainable Mining), Aditya Birla Group recommended localizing the supply chain for biomass and biofuel, along with the effective implementation of green credit initiatives. The carbon market exchange and the importance of quantifying the correlation between investment and its impact were key points of discussion. Besides Global Mining Summit, CII also organised the 17th edition of International Mining and Machinery Exhibition (IMME) 2024. IMME 2024 served as a catalyst for impactful B2B engagements, bringing together industry leaders and key stakeholders for high-level discussions aimed at shaping the future of mining. An impressive 284 meetings took place at the B2B Lounge and exhibition booths, establishing a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere for the event.