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Vol. 42 No. 4 January - March 2017

President’s MessageKnow Your President ............................................................................................ 02Editor’s Page• QualityControlandConsumerSatisfaction ........................................................ 03Regular Feature• Headquartersactivities ....................................................................................... 05• BranchActivities ................................................................................................. 12• NewsaboutMembers ......................................................................................... 19• NewMembers ..................................................................................................... 20• UpcomingEvents ................................................................................................ 21• BiennialEventofMGMI ...................................................................................... 24• NewsUpdate ...................................................................................................... 26Technical Article• KotahStoneQuarryWaste:byShriSCAgarwal&AshisAgarwal ................... 32Focus• Australia'sEnergySector .................................................................................... 38Safety & Health Issues• BidtoImproveSafetyinCoalMines ................................................................... 42Special Report• Reporton56thCGPBMeeting ........................................................................... 46• 2017MiningIndabaHighlightsonAfricanMines ................................................ 48From Archive• 100YearsAgo .................................................................................................... 50Achievement of MGMI Member• ProfTCRaohonouredbytheUniversityofQueensland(UQ) .......................... 52Condolences• TheMembersthatwelost .................................................................................. 53

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CovER PAGE PHoToGRAPHThesceneaftertheaccident(7.30pm,Dec.29,2016)attheLalmatiaopencastmineofRajmahalAreaofECLatGodadistrictofJharkhand.(Source:IndianExpress)Thephotoshowsamassivemoundofearthcamecrashingdownonexcavators.NDTVreportedthatthirteenexcavatorsanddumptrucks,swampedunderthedebris,havebeenrecoveredduringrescueoperation.

(DetailsinthecolumnSafety&HealthIssuesinMines)

C o n t e n t s

MGMI CouNCIl FoR 2016-17

President DrNKNanda,CMD, NMDC

vice-Presidents AvijitGhosh,CMD, HEC AKJha,CMD, MCL TKNag,CMD, NCL

JPGoenka,Mg. Partner, NMC

Immediate Past Presidents ANSahay,Former CMD, MCL TKLahiry,Former CMD, BCCL

Immediate Past Secretaries DrDebasishSarkar,GM, (HRD), CIL

Prof.SCRay,Former HOD, IIT, Kharagpur

Honorary Secretary PrasantaRoy,Sr Manager (CV), CIL

Hony Jt Secretary Hony Treasurer Hony Editor RajiwLochan RanajitTalapatra BCBhattacharya Chief Manager (Geol), CMPDI Sr Manager (CP), CIL Former CGM (WBPD), CIL

Council MembersAmritaAcharya,Former Coal Controller SamirKumarGhosh,Former Mgr (Met), HCL VKArora,Chief Mentor (Coal), KCT & Bros JPGoenka,Mg Partner, NMC DrJPBarnwal,Former,Chief Sc. & Head, CSIR PhalguniGuha,Former CGM, Coal Videsh, CIL Prof(Dr)AshisBhattacherjee,IIT, KGP AKKarmakar,Chief Mgr. (Mining), CIL AnupBiswas,Former DDG, Mines Safety ProfGPKarmakar,IIT, KGP LKBose,Former ED, CIL Prof(Dr)SubirKumarMukhopadhyay,Former IIT, KGP BhaskarChakraborti,Former Dir (SG), GSI AwadhKishorePandey,Chief Mgr (Mining), MCL AkhileshChoudhury,Former DDG, GSI AnilKumarSingh,GM/TS to Dir (Tech) GautamDhar,Former CGM (CP), CIL DrAmalenduSinha,Former Director, CIMFR

Advisor to the Editorial Committee LKBose,Former Executive Director, CIL, Kolkata

AmarKumarMajumdar,Hony. Jt. Editor AkhileshChoudhury,Former DDG, GSI SamirKumarGhosh,Former Mgr. (Met.), HCL

PrasantaRoy,Sr Manager (CV), CIL RanjitKr.Datta,Former Director, GSI ProfSCRay,Former HOD, IIT, KGP

News Journal, Vol. 42, No. 4, January - March 2017 1

President’s Message

Dear Friends,

At the very outset, I wish to convey a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2017 to you and to your family members although belatedly. I hope, all of you are keeping well with your health and family.

It is really a privilege for me to address the distinguished members of MGMI through this column and I wish to take the opportunity to inform that the much desired 7th Asian Mining Congress and Exhibition is being organized by MGMI during November 8 – 11, 2017 in Kolkata. I would also like to recall that the Annual General Meeting of the members of MGMI is due in September 2017. Like every year, this year also, we have to organize the prestigious Holland Memorial Lecture and Award Ceremony which would be preceded by a National Seminar. I am glad to mention here that we have successfully organized such event in the past with your active participation.

The preparation of the forthcoming 7th AMC is going on well and I hope all the members of MGMI will take interest for success of the event in a big way.

Details of the 7th Asian Mining Congress is being put up in MGMI Website as well as in the Website specially meant for the Asian Mining Congress. You may wish to inform your colleagues so that they may also plan in advance to participate in the 7thAsian Mining Congress and Exhibition accordingly.

I look forward to your active participation and whole-hearted support to organize this Mega Event in befitting manner so that participants can enhance their knowledge to meet the challenges ahead.

Thank you,

Dr NK Nanda

2 News Journal, Vol. 42, No. 4, January - March 2017

Shri Narendra Kumar Nanda is Director (Technical) National Mineral Development Corporation Hyderabad. He put 25 years of specialized service in mineral exploration, mine operation, mine development and production related activities before getting elevated as Director (Technical) on Dec. 1, 2008. As Director (Technical) currently he shoulders the responsibilities of Exploration, Research & Development, Mining Project Execution, Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, 3 MTPA Steel Plant of the company (NMDC) at Nagarnar and Chattisgarh and Foreign Projects (Legacy, Tanzania Gold Project, Kopano) of his company to name a few.

Holder of First Class Mines Manager Certificate (Restricted), Shri Nanda obtained his B. Tech (Mining) and M. Tech (by research) both from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad in the year 1982 and 2000 respectively. He was awarded Ph.D by the Vijay Nagar Sri Krishanadevaraya University, PG Center, Nandihalli, Sandur, Bellary on the subject “Beneficiation Studies on Iron formations of Donimalai Range” .

Before joining NMDC, he acquired experience in different mines of copper and limestone. Taking initiative at NMDC to prepare a strategic growth plan for the company in its core area of mining as well as diversifying into value added sectors like Steel and Pellet goes to his credit. Besides, the NMDC got benefitted for his initiatives on Capital expenditure (CAPEX) increase from Rs. 134.34 Cr. during 2007-08 to Rs. 3679 Cr during 2015-16, incorporating NMDC Global international investment division of NMDC, accomplishment of NMDC’s first ever foreign asset acquisition in Legacy Iron Ore - an ASX listed company having Iron Ore and gold assets in Australia with NMDC having majority stake

(Shri Nanda has been working as Chairman, Legacy Iron Ore in Australia since its stake is taken by NMDC since 2012), forming a JV called Kopano-NMDC Pvt. Ltd. in South Africa in 2010 for developing mineral assets in South Africa, mainly coal, successfully completing the integrated load trial of Bailadila Deposit 11B Project (7 MTPA capacity) on 29.03.2015, setting up of 1.2 MTPA Pellet Plant in Donimalai in the state of Karnataka which is nearing its completion.

Besides being President of the MGMI, he is Chairman - Mining Engineers Association of India, Hyderabad Chapter, Chairman – Mines Safety Association of Karnataka (MSAK), Member - Committee under Section 12 of Mines Act, under Ministry of Labour, Member - Mining Examinations Board, Controller of Examinations, Director-General of Mines Safety, and FIMI.

In addition to the post of Director, Technical NMDC, Shri Nanda is holding following additional responsibilities :

Chairman, Legacy Iron Ore Company Ltd., Australia (NMDC is having a major share in this company)

Vice-Chairman, KOPANO Iron Ore Co. Ltd., South Africa (A JV Company of NMDC)

Director I/C – J&K Mineral Development Co. Ltd., Jammu (A JV Company of NMDC)

Director, NMDC Power Ltd. (A subsidiary Company of NMDC)

Director NMDC-CMDC Ltd. (A JV Company of NMDC Ltd.)

Director Chattisgarh Mining Ventures Ltd. (A JV company of NMDC Ltd.)

Director Jharkhand-NMDC Limited (A JV Company of NMDC Ltd.)

Director Karnataka Vijaynagar Steel Limited (A wholly owned subsidiary of NMDC)

Director NMDC Steel Limited (A wholly owned subsidiary of NMDC)

Know your PrESIDEnT

Dr narendra Kumar nanda


Quality Control is basic action need to be taken care of by a coal supplying company for satisfaction of the consuming units. In the background of Nation’s optimistic programme of quantum jump of production and supply of domestic coal by 2020, and expecting cooperation of the private investors for contribution of supply of solid fuel particularly to the power plants, the state owned coal producing companies have to tighten their belts. They have to keep in mind supply of coal means “Quality Coal” upto the satisfaction of the consumers that they are paying for. Otherwise complaints will pour in, disputed outstanding will increase along with bad name of the supplying mines.

Slippage of grade in the supply, receipt of stones along with coal, oversize coal pieces in the consignment are normal complaints received from the consuming units that affect relation between the supplying mines and the consuming units, ultimately having impact on realisation of sale value. In this background recent decision of the Ministry - “The Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO), a Coal Ministry outfit, has been tasked with grading and notifying the mines of Coal India Ltd. from April 2017” (The Hindu, 18.03.2017) should mark a significant change from the present practice of internal grading by the supplying Coal Company i.e. Coal India. So far the State owned company was enjoying the facility of declaring minewise grades of coal and charging the price accordingly. The consumers are often objecting to the book-grades as in many cases grade in the supply slips to lower grades. Now that the private mines are coming up , hope this new system of declaration of grade of each

mine by the CCO should formalise and improve the situation.

Complaints in respect of quality of coal received by the consuming units, particularly the power plants, are very common in all countries across the globe. Root cause is, the commodity i.e. coal produced is not a manufactured item that can be designed as per consumers’ need. It is an extraction item produced from the womb of the mother earth. Because of heterogeneous nature of coal its quality parameters in the production vary in every inch along the length, breadth and thickness of the coal seam. The quality of the coal extracted is based on formation of the coal having enough influence of geological aspects in its occurrence. The Run-of-Mine (ROM) coal if supplied as it is, it is bound to invite complaints in respect of quality (heat value), receipt of stones and non-coaly materials admixed during extraction/loading and oversize pieces creating problems at the consuming point.

Some collieries produce and stock more than one grade of coal from its different mines/seams/levels. It is felt that there is a scope of production planning of the colliery having multiple grades from its contributing mines so that the final mixed coal gives an acceptable quality of coal to the satisfaction of the consuming unit linked with. Under such situation the linked consumer may be taken into confidence showing the arrangement of mixing coals of different mine units conforming to the grade of billing for their satisfaction. Proportion of mixing may be regulated time to time based on the heat value of the coals of contributing mine units.

However, nothing can be done regarding the quality parameters in-built in the seam by nature

Editor’s Page

Quality Control and Consumers’ satisfaCtion


and inherent to the coal. But mining companies can make efforts to adhere to the seam quality in the coal in the supply, grade of which are declared and priced per tonne according to the heat value. Here comes the responsibility of the mining company to take care so that grades are declared realistically based on scientific sampling / assaying and analysis, no non-coaly material (stones) get admixed in the extraction process, and supply is uniformly sized in the screening plant before loading. Loading of ROM coal has to be totally barred.

Again extraction / production in mines is not same in all the months of the year and varies due to seasonal impacts. In rainy season generally production suffers particularly in opencast mines the major supplier of the power coal. Therefore, all mines are required to keep a buffer stock of coal for maintaining uniformity in the monthly supplies as per requirement / linkage with the consuming units throughout the year. The mines have to take care not to keep the stock beyond the incubation period of the type of coal so that the coal does not catch fire or deteriorate in quality due to long storage. Along with scientific storage of the commodity, programme of “first-fall-first-lift” system has to be followed considering the incubation period.

Best solution of all the above menace is installation of coal washeries / processing units attached with all the coal mines supported by automatic sampling arrangement immune to any human interference. This facility can only help supplying uniform quality, uniform size (-100mm size to power plants) and coal free from stones and other external materials in the supply upto the satisfaction of the consumers. Coal India is advocating this arrangement since last quite a few decades, but it is still a dream to supply 100% processed coal to the linked consumers. Without this arrangement no system of sampling/joint sampling at loading point, unloading point, averaging the grade of sampling at both the points, sampling by third part (private), outsourcing sampling arrangement to CIMFER or Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO) or any other authority will be able to remove the disputes between supplier and consumer in Indian ambience of faithlessness and disbelief.q

Bibhas C Bhattacharya Editor, MGMI Kolkata

e-mail : [email protected] [email protected]

mob : 91-9830390039.


A. Approved Minutes of the 873rd CounCil Meeting held on 12th noveMber, 2016 At the MgMi building, sAlt lAke, kolkAtA

The 873rd Council Meeting was held on 12th November 2016 at MGMI Bldg., GN – 38/4, Sector – V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700 091 on Saturday at 2.30 p.m.

Dr. NK Nanda, President was in the Chair. The meeting was attended by Prof. Ghose Ajay K, Prof Banerjee SP, S/Shri Ritolia RP, Saha RK, Acharya Amrita, Arora VK, Dr. Barnwal JP, Prof. Bhattacharya Ashish, Bhattacharya BC, Bose LK, Chakraborti Bhaskar, Choudhury Akhilesh, Dhar Gautam, Ghosh Samir Kr , Goenka JP , Guha Phalguni, Karmakar AK, Prof. Karmakar GP, Prof (Dr) Mukhopadhyay SK, Pandey Awadh K, Dr. Moitra AK, Prof. Ray SC, Singh Anil Kr., DK Kundu, IP Wadhwa, Lochan Rajiw, Talapatra Ranajit and Roy Prasanta.

iteM no. 0 opening of the Meeting

0.1 Hony. Secretary, Shr i Prasanta Roy welcomed Shr i NK Nanda, P r e s i d e n t , M G M I , P r o f . A j o y K G h o s e P r o f . S P B a n e r j e e , Shri RP Ritolia, Shri RK Saha, Past Presidents and all Members of the Council in particular newly elected Council Members and invitees. Shri NK Nanda, President, MGMI presided over the meeting.

0.1.1 Leave of absence was granted to those who could not attend the Meeting.

0.2 President welcomed Past Presidents, all members of the Council and Invitees. He extended his gratitude to members for electing him as President of the oldest Professional Institute in India and Prestigious organization of the world.

Condolence : One minute silence was observed in the memory of Late Samarjit Kumar Baksi, (LM - 1110) passed away on 13th October 2016, Late Joy Prakash Dasgupta (LM - 2358) passed away on 08th October 2016 and Late Nagendra Kumar (LM - 4332) passed away on 18th October 2016.

samarjit kumar baksi : He became Life Member of MGMI 1958-59. He was 77. Late Baksi was Honorary Secretary of MGMI (Hq.) from 1972 – 76 and thereafter till his last breath he was associated with almost all activities of MGMI. During his tenure as Honorary Secretary he contributed quite a lot for the development of MGMI, and in those time, a great many transformations were made towards the overall growth of the Institute. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Joy prakash dasgupta : He became Life Member of MGMI during 1983-84. He was 74. He served the Coal Industry in the field of Materials Management for more than three decades and retired on 31st January 2003 as Chief General Manager (MM Divn.) from Coal India Limited. Late Dasgupta was Honorary Secretary of MGMI (Hqs.) from 1999-2003. During his tenure as Honorary Secretary he contributed quite a lot for the development of MGMI. He is survived by his son & daughter.

nagendra kumar : He became Life Member of MGMI during 1984 – 85. He was actively associated with MGMI and participated in many

Regular Feature

Headquarters activities


of the activities of MGMI and he used to take lead role in the National Seminars of MGMI. Recently, in last September he was the Guest of Honour in the National Seminar of MGMI. He is survived by his wife, son and family members.

President thereafter took up the agenda items.

873.1.0 to confirm the minutes of the 872nd meeting of the Council held at kolkata on 21st August, 2016.

The Minutes were circulated to all Council members. So far, no comments were received. The Council then resolved that:

resolution “872.1.0”: Be it resolved that the minutes of the 872nd (4th meeting of the 110th Session) meeting of the Council held on 21st August, 2016 at Kolkata are confirmed.

873.1.1 to consider matters arising out of the minutes.

The Council then considered the Action taken report on the minutes of the 872nd meeting of the Council held on 21st August, 2016 at Kolkata and noted the report.

873.2.0 to report about the national seminar held on 20th september, 2016.

The National Seminar on ““environmental and social impact of Mining and Mitigation thereof (esiMM – 2016)” was held on 20th September 2016 at the hotel, The Oberoi Grand Kolkata. Shri Prasanta Roy, Hony. Secretary, on behalf of Dr. Amalendu Sinha, Convenor of ESIMM 2016 submitted a report which was circulated in the meeting. The seminar was graced by Shri Sutirtha Bhattacharya, IAS, Chairman, Coal India Ltd. as Chief Guest while the Guests of Honour were Dr. MP Narayanan, Former President, MGMI and Former Chairman, Coal India Ltd., Prof. SP Banerjee, Former Director, ISM,

Dhanbad and Former President, MGMI. Other Guests on the dias in the session were Shri NK Nanda, President – elect, MGMI and Director (Technical), NMDC, Shri N Kumar, Director (Technical), CIL, Shri R Mohan Das, Director (P & IR), CIL. The session was chaired by Shri AN Sahay, President, MGMI and Former CMD, MCL. Technical session was chaired by Shri Partha S Bhattacharya, Former Chairman, CIL wherein five Keynote Papers were presented. Shri Bhattacharya, in his initial address, remarked the Coal Industry was facing problems Globaly. A few years back, unavailability of coal was a factor, now it is surplus with more production and less demand. He referred to other energy resources mentioning that coal India meets 40% of the country’s energy needs. According to him, degree of unawareness about CIL’s operations, specially on environmental and social aspects, has been huge and public awareness needs to be built up. He cited foreign examples of Land Reclamation.

The five Keynote Speakers and their deliberation have been presented as :

i) Shri SK Gupta, ISM on ‘Assessment of Impact of Coal Mining on Ground water Quality of Southern Part of Coal City – Dhanbad using WQI and GIS’.

ii) Dr. PK Singh, CIMFR on ‘Environmental and Social Impacts of Mining and their Mitigation’

iii) Sh r i SK Bha t tacha rya , HCL on ‘Development of Malanjkhand Copper Mine and Measures being Adopted for Environment Preservation’.

iv) Shri S. Kamraj, NLC on ‘Environmental Management in Lignite Mining Projects of NLC, Neyveli, Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu’ on behalf of Shri Subir Das, Director (Mines)’.


v) Shri M. Vasanth Kumar, SCCL, on ‘Environment and Social Impact and Biological Eco-restoration in SCCL’.

Hony. Secretary thanked the Convenor and the President for putting their sincere effort to make the seminar a grand success. It was also decided to print the recommendations of the Seminar prepared by Prof. SP Banerjee, Shri LK Bose, Shri DV Pichamuthu and Shri Smarajit Chakrabarti in MGMI News Journal. The seminar was a grand success and derived a marginal surplus out of the Income.

873.3.0 to elect office bearers viz vice-president, hony. Jt. secretary, hony. treasurer and hony. editor amongst Council Members of the institute for the year 2016 - 2017.

vice president : The following persons have been selected unanimously as Vice Presidents of MGMI for the year 2016-17 :

Shri TK Nag, CMD, NCL Shri Avijit Ghosh, CMD, HEC Shri AK Jha, CMD, MCL Shri JP Goenka, MD, NMC

For the year 2016-17 the following persons unanimously selected as :

Hony. Jt. Secretary : Shri Rajiw Lochan Hony. Treasurer : Shri Ranajit Talapatra Hony. Editor : Shri BC Bhattacharya

873.4.0 to discuss about foundation day lecture.

Council agreed to organize the 15th Foundation Day Lecture in January 2017. The Council decided to organize a Technical Lecture in the memory of late N Kumar, Former D(T), CIL. The Venue of the lecture will be decided soon. Tentative date in 3rd week or 4th week of January 2017 will be finalized depending upon the availability of venue and availability of speaker.

873.5.0 to discuss about the 7th Asian Mining Congress.

Upon detailed discussion, date of the 7th Asian Mining Congress was decided to organize during 8-11, November 2017. Shri AK Jha, Vice President, MGMI and CMD, MCL has been nominated as the Chairman of the Conference while Shri B R Reddy, CMD, SECL has been nominated as the Chairman of the Exhibition Committee.

The IME 2017 will be held at ECO PARK, Ground, Kolkata and the Conference will be held at a suitable hotel in Kolkata.

On receipt of the draft MoU as submitted by TAFCON Projects India Pvt. Ltd. for consideration, it was circulated to all members of the Council. The Council agreed and noted the preponed date of the 7th Asian Mining Congress during November 08-11, 2017 and constituted committees for the 7th Asian Mining Congress.

In the last meeting Council authorized Shri JP Goenka, Shri VK Arora and Hony. Secretary along with other Sr. Council members to negotiate with Shri IP Wadhwa of Tafcon for enhancement of Minimum guaranteed amount and booking rate per sq.mt. Accordingly, a meeting was held on 12th November 2016. After a long debate Shri IP Wadhwa agreed to modify the clause nos. 4 and 4.1 of their MoU for the 7th Asian Mining Congress as follows:

Clause 4 (as modified) “TAFCON will contribute to MGMI a sum of Rs. 850.00 (Eight Hundred and Fifty) per sq.mt. of the net booked exhibition area inside the hall and Rs. 550.00 (five hundred and fifty) per sq.mt. of net exhibition space booked outside the hall by the exhibitors, subject to a minimum guaranteed amount of Rs. 45.00 lakhs (fortyfive lakhs).

Clause 4.1 (as modified) Out of the minimum guaranteed amount of Rs. 45.00 lakhs (fortyfive


lakhs), a part amount of Rs. 5.00 Lakhs (five lakhs) will be paid by Tafcon to MGMI within a week from the date of signing of the MoU. Another 10.00 Lakhs (ten lakhs) will be paid by Tafcon to MGMI within 03 months from the date of signing of the MoU. Out of the balance amount Rs. 10.00 Lakhs (ten lakhs) will be paid by Tafcon to MGMI by 31st december 2017. The final and balance including additional amount, based on the actual participation level including outside of the hall, will be paid by Tafcon to MGMI by 31st March 2018.”

The Council accepted the amended clause nos. 4 and 4.1 as recommended by the Committee and noted that the conference will be held during november 8-10, 2017 and the exhibition during 8-11, november 2017.

A letter dated nil has been received on 7th November 2016 from Dr. M P Narayanan, Vice Chairman, World Mining Congress suggesting to revise the dates for organizing the 7th Asian Mining Congress in 2nd or 3rd week of January

2018 was placed before the Council Meeting. In the earlier Council Meeting, it was discussed and decided that the 7th Asian Mining Congress will be held sometimes in 2nd week of November 2017 due to various reasons. However, the Council discussed the matter again and decided to hold the 7th Asian Mining Congress and Exhibition during November 8-11, 2017 and accordingly hotel and venue for the exhibition have been booked. So, at this juncture MGMI is unable to change the date. Council advised that a polite letter may be sent to Dr. MP Narayana, Vice Chairman, World Mining Congress stating our difficulties.

873.6.0 to consider applications for membership and the membership position of the institute.

The Council approved total 07 membership applications out of which 05 as Life members and 02 as Members.

The Council noted the Present position of membership which is as follows.

Membership position

(As on 12.11.2016)

21.08.2016 Add trans loss 12.11.2016

Member 262 02 - - 264

Life Member Associate

2448 39

05 -

- -

03 -

2450 39

Student Associate 06 - - - 06

Life Subscriber 32 - - - 32Subscriber 01 - - - 01Donor 02 - - - 02Patron Corporate

04 08

- -

- -

- -

04 08

2802 07 03 2806


873.7.0 Any other matter with the permission of the chair.

president’s Cup golf tournament : Name of Shri J P Goenka as Convenor of the forthcoming MGMI President’s Cup Golf Tournament was agreed by the Council. He was authorized to constitute a Committee, date and venue for the Golf Tournament.

Workshop on Modern Mining engineering Curriculum (MMeC 16) : An email was received on November 07, 2016 from the Convenor, MMEC 16, Dept. of Mining Engr., IIT, Kgp. intimating that the Mining Department is organizing a two day National Workshop on Modern Mining engineering Curriculum (MMeC 16) at IIT, Kgp Campus on 24-25, November 2016. The Convenor invited to attend this Workshop and deliver a 20 minutes presentation on the revision of the curriculum. Council proposed the names of Prof. S C Ray and Shri B C Bhattacharya to participate in the said workshop as MGMI representatives.

registration of MgMi kolkata branch : A discussion was held on the issue on members of Calcutta Region and subject of registration under Societies Act. The Council advised to take an expert opinion considering the whole aspects.

The meeting ended with vote of thanks to the Chair at 4.00 pm.

b. 15th foundAtion dAy leCture

The Fifteenth Foundation Day Lecture, an annual event of MGMI was organised on Saturday, the 4th February 2017 at hotel Hyatt Regency Kolkata. The Lecture was delivered by Padmashri Dr VP Dimri, FTWAS, FNA, FNASc, Dr Homi Bhabha Chair Professor, NGRI, Hyderabad. The topic of the lecture was “reducing global Warming by injecting Co2 in suitable geological formations in india”.

After welcome address by Dr NK Nanda, President, MGMI, the background of MGMI and the Foundation Day Lecture was presented by Shri Prasanta Roy and Shri LK Bose. Prof Dimri was introduced by Shri Ranajit Talapatra.

The summary of the lecture is as follows.

Prof Dimri presented data on global warming, pointing out that CO2 is principally considered as the main source of anthropogenic cause of warming. The other causes of global temperature rise were discussed. Out of the six green house gases accepted under Kyoto protocol, concentration of CO2

is the highest in atmosphere and hence blamed for global warming. The concentration has considerably increased since 1970 and was 392 ppm by volume in 2011. Burning fossil fuels is the leading cause and deforestation is the second major cause of inflation of anthropogenic CO2.

The major effects of global warming and climate change discussed were – changes in agricultural yields, sea level rise, increase in intensity of extreme weather events, changes in precipitation pattern & amount, mass species extinction, effects on glaciers, changes in the timing of seasonal pattern in ecosystems, other effects of economic importance.

Out of the various techniques for removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere, geo-sequestration is most important and feasible. This process describes long-term storage of CO2 or other forms of carbon in suitable geological formations, which are – abandoned hydrocarbon reservoirs; old oil fields, for enhanced oil recovery; saline reservoirs; non-economic coal seams deep coal seams; shale formations, basalt formations. In oil and coal fields, geo-sequestration of CO2 may help in enhanced oil recovery and extraction of coal bed methane. The process was discussed in brief. In other geological formations, mineral carbonation is a possibility.


Geo-sequestration of CO2 will also help climate change mitigation, though its effect is time-consuming. Other practices of reducing CO2 emissions to save the environment suggested are – tree plantation, using energy saving devices like cfl, using mass transport, harnessing solar, wind and geothermal energy, harnessing hydroelectric power, nuclear energy etc.

C. report on 1st ordinAry generAl Meeting (ogM) of the 111th session

The 1st Ordinary General Meeting of the 111th Session of the Institute was held at the hotel, Hyatt Regency Kolkata, JA-1, Sector III, Salt Lake City, Kolkata 700 098 on Saturday, the 4th February, 2017 at 3 p.m.

The Honorary Secretary, Shri Prasanta Roy, extended welcome to all the Members, Speakers and Guests present.

The Honorary Secretary thereafter took up the Agenda items and requested the Speakers to present their papers one by one. He also advised the Speakers to present their papers first, preferably within 15 (fifteen) minutes and then participants may raise question, if there be any. Originally four papers were scheduled for presentation. However, three papers were presented, as Prof (Dr) Samir Kumar Pal, IIT Kgp, could not present his paper due to his urgent assignment. Shri CP Singh, Sr Manger (Min)/Blasting Manager, NCL, Jayant Project also could not present in person. However, he authorized Mr Munir Ahmed, Manager (Min)/Blasting Officer to present the paper on his behalf. The following three papers were presented :

i) “Brief Background on Marine Geological work during last 50 years” by Dr TK Mallik Former Director, Marine Wing, Geological Survey of India.

ii) “Nanotechnology – coal and carbon Nanotubes – a proposal for sustainability of coal industry” by Dr MS Venkata Ramayya of Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd.

iii) “influence of electronic detonators on Blast induced Ground vibration & Blast Performance – a case study” by Shri CP Singh, Sr Manager(Min)/Blasting Manager, NCL, Jayant Project. The paper was presented by Mr Munir Ahmed, Manager (Min)/Blasting Officer on behalf of Shri CP Singh.

There were lively discussions on the papers as presented. However, some questions were raised by the members and the questions were adequately clarified by the Speakers. The Honorary Secretary, thanked the Speakers especially Dr MS Venkata Ramayya and Mr Munir Ahmed for taking the trouble of coming all the way from out of the State. He also thanked the participants taking part in the discussions. The Ordinary General Meeting was attended by 51(fifty one) members.

The Honorary Secretary, whi le giving vote of thanks, mentioned that the papers presented in the OGM will be printed in MGMI Transactions.

The paper presentation session was ended at 4-45 pm.

d. report on 2nd. ordinAry generAl Meeting (ogM) of the 111th session

The 2nd Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of the 111th Session was held at the Headquarters Bldg., of MGMI, at GN 38/4, Sector V, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 091 on Saturday, the 25th March, 2017. The OGM was conducted by the senior most Council Member present, Shri LK Bose. Shri Bose, extended welcome to all the members, speakers and guests present. The


OGM was attended by 19 members. Originally 04(four) papers ware scheduled for presentation. However, 03(three) papers could be presented as Prof (Dr) Samir Kr. Paul could not present his paper due to urgent assignment.

The Chairman requested Dr Rajib Dey to present his paper. The paper was on “Use of Naphthalene for betterment of Porosity and Reduction Behaviour of the Agglomerated Iron Ore Nuggets by Devolatisation of Boiler Grade Coal”. However, the title of the paper has been changed to “Effect of Naphthalene on Reduction Characteristics of Iron Ore Nuggets using Boiler Grade Coal” during scrutinising. The paper was presented by both of the authors namely Dr Rajib Dey and Shri Chanchal Biswas.

Prof (Dr) Samir Kr Paul could not come to present his paper. So, this paper has been withheld and kept for presentation in the near future.

Prof Mrinal Kanti Ghose was requested to present his paper. However, it was found that the data referred in the paper and the tables in different places were of pretty old dates. Prof Ghose was advised to update the relevant

tables and data referred in the paper. He was informed that the paper may be accepted with due updating for publication.

Shri Rupak Ranjan along with Shri Ashwani Jaiswal presented their paper on “Utilization of Inferior Grade imported Coking Coal after its In-house Beneficiation for Metallurgical Coke Production with the help of Coal Petrography at JSPL, Raigarh”. However, he was advised to modify the title of the paper as “Beneficiation of inferior grade Coking Coal for Coke making with special reference to their Petrographic Characteristics”.

There were lively discussions on the papers of Dr Rajib Dey and Shri Rupak Ranjan. However, some questions were raised by the members and the questions were adequately clarified by the speakers. The Chairman thanked the speakers and members for taking trouble for coming and to take part in the discussions. The Chairman while summarizing the session, mentioned that the papers presented in the OGM will be printed only on the updated/revised version. The paper presentation session was ended at 4.45 pm.q

Distribution of MGMI News Journal in hard copies by parallely e-mail

The Council at its meeting on 4th February 2017 considered the recommendation of the Editorial Committee that for the time being, two to three Quarterly issues of the MGMI News Journal may be printed too for distribution amongst all members, parallelly by email to the members having email Ids, thereafter on watching the reaction firmed decision would be taken.


Ranchi BRanchMinutes of the 6th Technical Session of MGMi Ranchi Branch held at cMPDi, Ranchi on 24.03.2017

A Technical Session of the MGMI, Ranchi Branch was held at the Koel Hall, STC Building, CMPDI (HQ), Gondwana Place, Kanke Road, Ranchi (Jharkhand) on Friday the 24th March 2017 at 05.30PM. The session was attended by 40 eminent MGMI members and their professional guests.

At the outset of the session, Dr. Anindya Sinha, General Manager, CMPDI and Hony. Secretary, MGMI Ranchi Branch welcomed all the MGMI members and their guests. Dr. Sinha was happy to announce the successful association and hosting of National Seminar on “challenges for Sustainable Development of Mining industry to meet Energy Security” (MiES-2017) on the occasion of the 28th National Convention of Mining Engineers organized by The Institution of Engineers (India), Jharkhand State Centre (IE(I), JSC), Ranchi in association with the Mining, Geological & Metallurgical Institute of India (MGMI), Ranchi Branch with the support of Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) during February 11-12, 2017 at Mayuri Auditorium, CMPDI campus, Ranchi. In this occasion, Dr. Anindya Sinha was felicitated as the Eminent Mining Engineer for his outstanding contribution to the mining industry.

The seminar was attended by 220 delegates and invitees from various organizations and various parts of the country. There were total eight sessions inclusive of Inaugural Session, Memorial & State-of-the Art Lecture Session, 5 Technical Sessions and Valedictory Session during the 2-days long seminar. A total of 33

papers have been received and published in the souvenir. Out of these 26 papers have been presented embracing the theme of the National Seminar and discussed during the technical sessions. The seminar was overseen and managed by Dr. Anindya Sinha, General Manager, CMPDI and Organising Secretary of MIES 2017 which went smoothly. Dr. Sinha thanked all the MGMI Ranchi Branch members for their active participation in all sessions on a regular basis and for their continual patronage and support.

Later, Dr. Anindya Sinha introduced today’s seminar topic and the author of the technical paper to the audience. In this session, a technical paper titled “Mine closure – challenges ahead” was presented by Shri Ravi Ranjan, Sr. Manager (Env.), CMPDI. Sri SK Varma, former CMD, CMPDI/ECL/CCL and a veteran member of MGMI, presided over the technical session and Sri VK Singh, Former CGM & Former Member of Environment Advisory Committee (Coal & Thermal), MoEF & CC as Session Rapporteur.

In this occasion, Sri Binay Dayal, Director (Tech/P&D), CMPDI, Sri RD Rai, Former CMD, WCL, and Sri JN Singh, Former Director, WCL also graced the occasion with their esteemed presence and enriching suggestions.

Formal vote of thanks was delivered by Sri Manoj Sanwal, Committee Member, MGMI, Ranchi Branch.

Minutes of the 5th Technical Session of MGMi Ranchi Branch held at cMPDi, Ranchi on 03.02.2017

A Technical Session of the MGMI, Ranchi Branch was held at the Koel Hall, STC Building, CMPDI (HQ), Gondwana Place, Kanke Road,

BRanch acTiViTiES

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Ranchi (Jharkhand) on Friday the 03rd February 2017 at 05.30PM. The session was attended by 35 eminent MGMI members and their professional guests.

At the outset Dr. Anindya Sinha, General Manager (S&T/Blasting), CMPDI(HQ) and Hony. Secretary, MGMI Ranchi Branch welcomed all the MGMI members and the guests. Dr. Sinha was happy to announce that the MGMI Ranchi Branch is in a position to organize such technical session on a regular basis participated by senior as well as junior members of MGMI. He thanked the MGMI Ranchi Branch members for their continual patronage and support.

Dr. Sinha further announced that The Institution of Engineers (India), Jharkhand State Centre (IE(I), JSC), Ranchi in association with The Mining, Geological & Metallurgical Institute of India (MGMI), Ranchi Branch with the support of Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI), is organizing a National Seminar on “challenges for Sustainable Development of Mining industry to meet Energy Security” (MiES-2017) on the occasion of the 28th National Convention of Mining Engineers during February 11-12, 2017 at Mayuri Auditorium, CMPDI campus, Ranchi. He invited all MGMI members to attend the seminar and requested for active association in the National Mining Seminar through technical papers and presentations. The house appreciated the efforts of Dr. Sinha for the same.

Later, Dr. Anindya Sinha introduced the seminar topic and the author of the technical paper to the audience. In this session, a technical paper titled “Planning for Opencasting – a complex and Deep-seated coal Deposit” was presented by Sri B. Rai, Former CGM, CIL and Sri VK Singh, Former CGM & Former Member of Environment Advisory Committee (Coal & Thermal), MoEF & CC. Sri SK Varma, former CMD, CMPDI/ECL/CCL and a veteran member of MGMI, presided over the technical session.

In this occasion, Sri AK Chakraborty, Director (Tech/ES), CMPDI, Sri RD Rai, Former CMD, WCL, Sri JN Singh, Former Director, WCL, and Sri JL Mehta, Former Director, NLC India Limited & former member of Environment Advisory Committee (Coal & Thermal), MoEF also graced the occasion with their esteemed presence and enriching suggestions.

Formal vote of thanks was delivered by Sri Jayanta Chakravarty, Hony. Treasurer, MGMI, Ranchi Branch.

Report of national convention of Mining Engineers and national Seminar on “challenges for Sustainable Development of Mining industry to meet Energy Security (MiES 2017)”, Ranchi, February 11-12, 2017

The Institution of Engineers (India), Jharkhand State Centre, Ranchi and The Mining, Geological & Metallurgical Institute of India (MGMI), Ranchi Branch in collaboration with Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI), Ranchi organized a National Seminar on “Challenges for Sustainable Development of Mining Industry to meet Energy Security (MIES 2017)” concurrently with National Convention of Mining Engineers during February 11-12, 2017 hosted in the corporate ambience of Mayuri Auditorium, CMPDI campus at Ranchi.

The convention began with National Anthem. Sri Binay Dayal, Director (Technical), CMPDI and Chairman, Organizing Committee, MIES 2017 spoke on the theme and set the tone of the event. He said that the challenges remain in the form of green power generation especially India being a signatory for various climate and environment related treaties. Thereafter the dignitaries, namely Shri AN Sahay, the Advisor, Indian Institute of Coal Management (IICM), Ranchi and Former CMD, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), Guest of Honour in the event, Shri Avijit Ghosh, Chairman-cum-Managing


Director (CMD), Heavy Engineering Corporation Ltd. (HEC), Ranchi, delivered their valuable opinions on the topic of the event. The Seminar was spread over in five technical sessions.

The prestigious Prof. SK Bose Memorial Lecture was delivered by Sri Sudhir Kumar Varma, Former CMD of CMPDI, ECL & CCL (and a veteran member of MGMI) on the topic ‘Risks and Hazards of Underground Mining’. Besides there were two State-of-the-Art lectures delivered by (1) Prof. Jayanta Bhattacharya, Department of Mining Engineering and Head, School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, IIT Kharagpur on the topic ‘Leveraging Biodiversity Protection and Corporate Social Responsibility: The Way Forward for Mining Industry’; (2) Prof. Pratik Dutta, Professor, Mining Engineering, IIEST Shibpur on the topic ‘Carbon capture and storage (CCS) - a viable clean coal technology option?’.

On this occasion, two Eminent Mining Engineering Personalities, namely, Dr. Anindya Sinha, General Manager, Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDI), Ranchi & Honorary Secretary, MGMI Ranchi Branch, and Sri Alok Kumar, Chief Manager (Mining), Central Coalfields Limited, Ranchi were felicitated as “Eminent Engineers” for their immense contribution to the Mining Engineering profession. On this occasion a Proceedings was also released by the Chief Guest and other dignitaries on dais.

26 numbers of papers embracing the theme of the National Seminar were presented and discussed during the five technical sessions. The convention was attended by 115 delegates and 105 invitees / members of IE(I) / MGMI from various coal / non-coal mining companies and various other service providers.

The seminar was graced by the delegates from various organisations and institutes namely ECL, BCCL, CCL, WCL, SECL, NCL, MCL,

MECON Ltd., NTPC, ISP-SAIL, CET-SAIL, IOCL, HEC, TSL, HINDALCO, Usha Martin, IIT Bombay, IIT-ISM, CIMFR, IT-BHU, Birsa Agriculture University (BAU), Ranchi, IWRC, Bengaluru, Metso India Pvt Ltd, Solutions to the Global Mineral Exploration & Mining Industry, GRT, VOLVO Trucks, IRCON, GSJ & Safe Mines, MAPL, IDL and CMPDI and shared their views on a topic of such contemporary relevance. The audience was enlightened by the interactive sessions and energetic deliberations. The recommendations of the seminar were also listed out by the technical committee.

Dr. Anindya Sinha, General Manager, CMPDI & the Organising Secretary of MIES 2017 proposed a vote of thanks on the occasion of the concluding session. It was a grand ceremony to cherish upon for its excellent show and wide participation.

Minutes of the 4th Technical Session of MGMi Ranchi Branch held at cMPDi, Ranchi on 25.11.2016

A Technical Session of the MGMI, Ranchi Branch was held at the Koel Hall, STC Building, CMPDI(HQ), Gondwana Place, Kanke Road, Ranchi (Jharkhand) on Friday the 25th November 2016 at 05.30PM. The session was attended by 45 eminent MGMI members and their professional guests.

At the outset, Dr. Anindya Sinha, General Manager (S&T/Blasting), CMPDI(HQ) and Hony. Secretary, MGMI Ranchi Branch welcomed all the MGMI members and guests. Dr. Sinha was happy to announce that the MGMI Ranchi Branch is in a position to organize such technical session on a regular basis participated by senior as well as junior members of MGMI and thanked the MGMI Ranchi Branch members for their continual patronage and support. During the session, MGMI Ranchi Branch was inspired by the august presence of Sri Shekhar Saran, CMD, CMPDI. He was happy to know


the activities of MGMI Ranchi Branch which are being taken up on regular basis.

Later, Dr. Anindya Sinha introduced the seminar topic and the author of the technical paper to the audience. In this session, a technical paper titled “Man Productivity vs Machine Productivity of a large Opencast Mine – a Study” was presented by Sri Sanjiv Kumar, Sr. Manager (Mining)/Manager, Rajrappa Opencast Project, CCL. Sri JN Singh, former Director, MCL and a veteran member of MGMI, presided over the technical session.

In this occasion, Sri TP Srivastava, Former Director (Tech), SECL, Sri DD Sahai, Former ED, CIL, and Sri VK Singh, Former CGM & member of Environment Advisory Committee (Coal & Thermal), MoEF also graced the occasion with their esteemed presence and enriching suggestions.

Formal vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Anindya Sinha, Hony. Secretary, MGMI, Ranchi Branch.

calcuTTa BRanch

annual Get-together 2017

MGMI Calcutta Branch, known for its unique activities, apart from time to time organizing workshops / seminars, lecture sessions on topical techno-scientific issues, makes conscious efforts to promote interaction amongst the members of MGMI and families. Following that tradition of 24 years, this year also, the regular annual event of the branch, 25th Annual Meet of families of the members was held on 15thJanuary 2017. It was arranged at Golden Glow Garden, Dingelpota, south of Boral, 24 Paraganas (S), West Bengal.

The daylong event was attended by about 200 persons comprising members and their families. Four luxury coaches picked up the participants in the morning from different parts of Kolkata

and outskirts, and dropped them back in the evening. The day at the spot was spent over breakfast, mid day snacks and beverages, lunch interspaced with many other fun and frolic. There were sports events for all age groups. Friends, colleagues, alma maters, professional acquaintances and their families remained engrossed the whole day in ‘adda’ (chatting). At the conclusion, participation mementoes were presented to the members and dinner packets were handed over to all before leaving. Hope more members will be participating in the next 26th Annual day programme.

BhuBanESwaR BRanch

Minutes of the 3rd Executive committee Meeting held on 14/1/17 at Bhubaneswar

Next MGMI Bhubaneswar Executive Committee meeting is proposed at 4.30 PM in the Committee room of the Institution of Engineers (India), Odisha state center, Bhubaneswar.

Following persons attended the meeting :

1. Sri SN Padhi Chairman

2. Sri GS Khuntia, Vice-Chairman

3. Sri DK Mohanty, General Manager (sales), OMC, Hony. Secretary

4. Dr. PK Mishra, Sr Manager (Civil), OMC Ltd, Joint secretary

5. Sri Abhiram Sahoo, Dy GM (Prod) OMC, Treasurer

6. Dr SK Biswal, HOD, Mineral Processing Dept, RRL (Bhubaneswar), CSIR, Editor. Executive Committee Members:

7. SK Das, Dy GM (Geology)/lncharge Geology Dept, OMC Ltd,

8. Prof Dr GB Mishra, Former HOD, Mining Engg Dept (Kgp)

9. Sri JP Panda, Former CGM, MCL


10. Sri Gokulananda Sahoo, Co-opted.

Following points were discussed

1. Sri SN Padhi presided over the meeting

2. Sri GS Khuntia welcomed all members present and explained the progress of the Branch activities :

(a) Letter head of MGMI Bhubaneswar Branch - got printed

(b) Bank Account Opening in Axis Bank Satyanagar, Bhubaneswar - Done

(c) PAN card of the Bhubaneswar Branch - Done

This has been informed to MGMI-HO-Kolkata. Sri Khuntia stated that Sri Prashant Roy, MGMI, Hony Secretary / Sri LK Bose Council Member / Sri BC Bhattacharya Honorary Editor had a talk with him & they wanted "Minutes of all such meeting with photographs be sent to Hony. Secretary for publication in MGMI News Journal as BRANCH activities.

3. Sri Abhiram Sahoo, Dy GM(Production), OMC is now new Treasurer of MGMI, Bhubaneswar & Sri SK Das shall continue as Council Member with immediate effect. This has been informed to MGMI, Kolkata

4. Plan of action for 2017 :

(a) Monthly meetings - Sri Khuntia proposed to organize the monthly meeting at lEI, Office IDMS Office or other suitable place on 2nd Saturday of a month for paper reading and Discussion. This was agreed.

(b) One Good Seminar of 2 days duration shall be organized in September/October/November - 2017. For this efforts will be necessary for printing of Circular / ADVT, invitation of

Technical papers, etc. Sri Khuntia and Sri DK Mohanty shall draft the Circular by 15.2.17.

Membership drive : Sri Khuntia emphasized that continued efforts has to be made by each of the Executive Committee Members to add one member each month to start with.

6. It was also decided in Council Meeting that Sri GN Sahoo, Asst manager, attached to Sri DK Mohanty, General Manager (sales)/Hony secretary be co-opted as a mrember of the Executive Committee.

7. (a) Paper readings: As Sri Khuntia had a sore throat, members desired that his paper entitled "New Mining Legislation in India, Salient Features, Implication of Auction for ML/PL & new Taxes like DMF !NMET /Service Taxes etc." which is an Important subject now for Mining Industry shall be discussed in next paper reading Session

(b) Sri JP Panda presented his paper on "Mega Projects & Concept of Speed should be success mantra for Coal India to reach ONE BILLION TONNEs by 2020 "was presented & discussed

8. Sri Khuntia also suggested that Hony Secretary through his office or Joint Secretary shall inform council members by phone about Executive Committee Meeting date / Time /Venue.

9. Any other points: Paper reading details can be printed in local bulletin with Sponsorer details, if any.

Meeting ended with Vote of thanks to the Chair.q


3rd Executive committee Meeting held on 14th January 2017

BhuBanESwaR BRanch

Glimpse of the annual Get-together Meet held on 15th January 2017

calculTTa BRanch


5th Technical Session held on 3rd February 2017

Ranch i BRanch

National Convention of Mining Engineers & National Seminar on “Challenges for Sustainable Development of Mining Industry to meet Energy Security” held on 11-12th February 2017


Dr Ritesh D Lokhande (10587-LM) MMGI is now Assistant Professor, Visvesvarya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) South Ambazari Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Pin 440 010 email [email protected], [email protected], (M) 9422738028

Shri Ananda Dube (7534-LM) MMGI new email address is [email protected]

Shri Ashok Kumar Panda, (8195-LM) MMGI is now Dy Manager (Mining), At Ananta Vihar Colony, Qr No B/27, Block No 04, PO Dera Colliery, Dist Angul, Odhisha 759 103 email : [email protected], Mob : 9430786740

Dr DN Sharma (10709-LM) MMGI is now Consultant Geologist and Geotech exspert, (Former Dy DG, SCCL) Plot No 20, MIG 394, Door No 5-19, Sujatha Nagar, Chinna Mushidivada, Visakhapatnam 530 001 (M) 9491144943 email : [email protected]

Dr Netai Chandra Dey (6954-LM) MMGI is now Dean (Students Affairs) IIEST in addition to his normal position Professor (Mining Engg) IIEST Shibpur since March 2015

Shri CP Singh (10483-LM) MMGI is now at Type – 2/44, CMPDI Colony, PO Jayant, Dist Singrauli, MP 486 890 email : [email protected]

Shri Bireshwar Chattapadhyay (10291-LM) MMGI is now at 73, Kunj Vihar Colony, Sugiadih, Saraidhela, PO CCWO, Dhanbad 828 127 Ph : 9470596972, email : [email protected]

Shri SC Padhy (10012-LM) is now at Flat No 325, Tower – 7, Royal Lagoon, Raghunathpur, Nandankanan Road, Bhubaneswar 754005 email [email protected]

Shri Vilas Teggi (4732-LM) is now at A-201, Sonata Apts, 1-9-1089/90, Street No 5, Vidyanagar, Hyderabad 5000044, Telangana. Ph : 9440128866, 9952995111, email : [email protected]

Prof Tarkeshwar Kumar(6234-LM) MMGI is now at Dept of Petroleum Engg. Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), PO ISM, Dhanbad 826004, Jharkhand Email : [email protected] Ph : 9732025025, 8051088444

Prof. M Ramakrishna (3760-LM) MMGI is now at new email : [email protected]

Dr. JP Barnwal (6501-LM) MMGI is now at Chief Scientist (Retired), H-102, Sagar Royal Villas, Near Aashima Mall, Bhopal - 462026, Mobile – 09425300280, Email : [email protected] & [email protected]

NEWS ABOUT MEMBERS

Regular Feature

As on 03.01.2017


As Life Member10724-LM, Shri Ashok Kumar, B Tech (Mining), M Tech (Min Safety), Scientist, CSIR-CIMFR, Room No. 17 Main Building, Barwa Road, Dhanbad – 826015, Jharkhand, Ph : 8603401161, Mail : [email protected]

10725-LM, Shri Devidas S Nimaje, BE (Min), M Tech (Min) Ph D (Min), Asstt. Professor, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Department of Mining Engineering, NIT, Rourkela – 769008, Odisha, Ph : 9437943121, Mail : [email protected]

10726-LM, Shri Goutam Kumar Mondal, Dip in Mech, CEO, Associated Pneumatic Industries Pvt. Ltd., 142, Lenin Sarani, 2nd Floor, Kolkata – 700013, Ph : 9831038131, Mail : [email protected]

10728-LM, Shri Ravi Kumar Patney, M.Sc (Geol) AISM (Min), Former Mining Supdt., 334, Sector – 19, Pocket – 02, Dwarka, New Delhi – 110075, Ph : 9311706084, E-mail : [email protected]

10729-LM, Shri Binod Kumar, BE (Mech) MBA (HRM), Manager (Excavation), Coal India Limited, Flat No. A – 43, Parwana Apartment, Mayur Vihar, Phase – 1, Extn, Delhi – 110091 Ph : 9868201250/011 - 43011761 (R), E-mail : [email protected]

10730-LM, Shri Pradeep Kumar Sharma, PG Dip in Min, PG Dip in PM & IR, PG Dip in MGMT, Director (DataSire), Vice President (Cement Divn. Jaypee Gr), K7/20 DLF Phase 2, Gurgaon, Hariyana – 122002, Ph : 9654891277 / 0124-4041290, E-mail : [email protected]

As Member

10727-M, Shri Mahabir Mukhopadhyay, M Tech, DISM / CE(I) AMIE (Mech), Chief Manager (Excavation), Coal India Limited, Flat No. C-15, Purba Prantik Housing Society, P – 229, CIT Scheme - 7M, Ultadanga, Kolkata – 700 054, Ph : 9433880630/8336954949 Mail : [email protected]

New MeMber

Regular Feature

As approved in Council Meeting on 04. 02. 2017

A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day - Ancient Proverb.


JUNE 20176 to 7 June : The AusIMM International Uranium Conference 2017. Conference, Venue: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Website: http://www.uranium.ausimm.com.au/ Contact person: Suzie Chan. The conference, entering its 12th consecutive year, continues to be the premier event in the uranium industry. Organized by: The AusIMM.Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 20th February 2017 . Check the event website for more details.

12 to 14 June : 6th International Conference on Petroleum Industry and Energy (ICPIE 2017), Conference, Venue: Madrid, Spain. Website: http://www.icpie.org/Contact person: Ms. Lydia. Liu. Accepted papers will be published in the Journal of Industrial and Intelligent Information (JIII, ISSN: 2301-3745), or Journal of Clean Energy Technologies (JOCET, ISSN: 1793-821X),It will be included in EI(INSPEC, IET). Organized by: CBEES.Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 5th February 2017. Check the event website for more details.

JULY 20176 to 7 July : Mining On Top: Africa-Summit (MOTA), Conference. Venue: Frankfurt, Germany. Website: http://go.evvnt.com/77881-0 Contact person: BarboraKuckova. MOTA is the most definitive African mining conference for Europe, uniting Minster’s from Africa’s most established and emerging mining economies with global mining executives, investors etc. Time: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. Organized by: Ame Trade LTD. Check the event website for more details.

23 to 26 July : IEEE Internat ional Conference on Green Energy (ICOGE 2017)-EiCompendex, Scopus, Conference. Venue: Singapore. Website: http://www.icoge.org/ Contact person: Ms.ZoeJ.Wang.Publication: All the accepted papers will be published in the conference Proceedings,and reviewed by the IEEE Conference Publication Program for IEEE Xplore and EiCompendex, Scopus. Organized by: Energy Committees of ICOGE. Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 20th March 2017. Check the event website for more details.

AUGUST 20172 8 t o 3 0 A u g . : T h e A u s t r a l i a n Mine Venti lat ion Conference 2017, Conference. Venue: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Website: http://www.austminevent.com.au/ Contact person: Eliza Sanneman. The conference will bring operators, planning personnel, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, government regulators, consultants and research and technology personnel together to explore achievements and build a better industry. Organized by: The AusIMM.Check the event website for more details.

28 Aug. to 1 Sept. : 7th International Conference on Medical Geology “MedGeo2017” , Conference. Venue: Moscow, Russian Federation. Website: http://medgeo2017.org/ Contact person: YuliaBikulova. The highly topical program of the Conference will include plenary lectures, keynote lectures, courses and workshops as well as field trips, which will give the participants the better understanding of the main issues on medical geology. Organized by : Russian Geological Society. Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 10th February 2017. Check the event website for more details.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Regular Feature


SEPTEMBER 20173 to 5 Sept. : 2nd International Conference on Functional Materials and Steel (ICFMS 2017) - SCOPUS, EiCompendex, Conference. Venue: Tokyo, Japan. Website: http://www.icfms.org/ Contact person: Ms. Veronica Reed. Publication: All the registered and presented papers will be published in the proceedings, which indexed by SCOPUS, EiCompendex (CPX) etc. Organized by: ICFMS 2017 Committees.Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 20th August 2017. Check the event website for more details.

14 to 15 Sept. Geological Society - The evolution of flooding and flood risk. Conference. London, United Kingdom. Website: https://go.evvnt.com/107846-0 Contact person: Georgina Worrall. This meeting will explore how geoscience can inform changes in approaches and future policy to mitigate flooding and flood risk. Time: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. Organized by: The Geological Society. Check the event website for more details.

20 to 23 Sept. : 2017 2nd International Conference on Power and Renewable Energy (ICPRE 2017)--IEEE Xplore and EiCompendex, Conference. Chengdu, China. Website: http://www.icpre.org/ Contact person: Chen Li. Publication: IEEE Conference Proceeding. Indexed by: EiCompendex? IEEE Xplore. Keynote Speakers: 1. Prof. Ching-Fuh Lin National Taiwan University, Taiwan. 2. Prof. Hassan Bevrani University of Kurdistan, Iran. Organized by: IEEE Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 10th May 2017. Check the event website for more details.

OCTOBER 201719 to 21 Oct. : International Conference on Mining and Fuel Industries (CMFI-2017), Venue: Sheikh Zayed Islamic Research Center, Karachi, Pakistan, organized by: SEGMITE, Department of Geology, Federal Urdu University, Inspectorate of Mines, Department of Mines and Mineral Development, Sindh and Department of Mining Engineering, Dumlupinar University, Kutahya, Turkey. You are invited to submit abstract of your paper on the given template for CMFI-2017. Contact for Abstract Submission : Conference Secretary Prof. Suhail Anjum at <[email protected]>. Contact for further details: Chief Organizer CMFI-2017, Prof. Dr. Viqar Husain (Convener SEGMITE), (Chief Editor IJEEG & Vice President AGID), Department of Geology, University of Karachi, E-mail: [email protected] Looking forward to your participation in the conference.

22 to 25 Oct. : Geological Society of America Annual Meeting & Exposition (GSA 2017 ) . Confe rence . Sea t t l e , W A , U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a . W e b s i t e : h t t p : / / g o . e v v n t .com/106030-0 Contact person: GSA Meetings. GSA2017 will bring together 7000+ geoscientists from across the globe–providing a forum where they will share their latest research, build upon knowledge and communicate across geologic disciplines. Time: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. Organized by: The Geological Society of America. Check the event website for more details.

26 – 28 Oct. 2017 : National Workshop on Slope Stability, Venue: I IT (BHU), Vranasi, Organiser: Department of Mining Engineering, IIT (BHU). The Workshop will


address the issues on slope stability, exchange views on best practices and state of the art stability technologies, design implantation and performance monitoring. Contact: Dr. Rajesh Rai, Convenor/Prof. BK Shrivastava, Chairman. Pl see the website: www.itbhu.ac.in/min/slpe.html, or www.slope17.com for details.

NOVEMBER 201713 to 16 Nov. : Flotation ‘17. Venue: Cape Town, South Africa. Website: http://www.min-eng.com/flotation17/ Contact person: Dr Barry Wills. Flotation ‘17 features 2 discrete symposia: November 13-14: Flotat ion

Fundamentals: Physics and Chemistry and November 15-16: Flotation Applications and Plant Practice. Organized by: MEI.Check the event website for more details.

February 20187to 9 Feb. : International Seminar on”Exploration of Oil, Gas, Coal Minerals and Ground Water: Modern Techniques and Appliances’. Organiser: ISM Alumni Association. Venue: Kolkata. Contact:DrAjoy Kumar Moitra (Convener), [email protected] and / or [email protected] persons may kindly contact.q

(Please note : We aim to provide correct and reliable information about upcoming events, but cannot accept responsibility for the text of announcements or the bona fides of event organizers. Please feel free to contact us if you notice incorrect or misleading information and we will attempt to correct it.)


The 7th Asian Mining Congress and International Mining Exhibition, a biennial event, is being organized by the Mining, Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India (MGMI). The 1st AMC and Exhibition was held in January 2006 to commemorate the Centenary of MGMI, the 2nd AMC in January 2008, the 3rd in January 2010, the 4th AMC in January 2012, the 5th AMC in February 2014 and the 6th AMC in February 2016. These events were highly successful with participation of around 20 countries spread over different parts of the globe along with large participation of various mining organizations in India.

The 7th Asian Mining Congress and Exhibition in this sequel will be held from November 8-11, 2017 at Kolkata.

Technical Sessions of the Congress will be held in the hotel, The Westin Kolkata, Rajarhat. The 7th International Mining Exhibition (IME 2017) will be held at Eco Park, Rajarhat, Kolkata.

The Congress will provide a forum for promotion and support of techno - scientific cooperation towards national and international progress in the areas of mineral production, in addition to the development of new opportunities of sustainable business that will benefit both Asian and the World Communities.

THEME: International COOPERATION IN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR GROWTH OF MINERAL INDUSTRY

The Lead Topics to be covered in the Conference are :

Exploration, State-of-the-Art Technologies : Underground and Opencast, Development of Minor Minerals, Offshore and Deep Sea Mining, Oil and Gas: Shale Oil, Shale Gas, Gas Hydrate, Underground Coal Gasification, CBM., Mineral / Coal Processing and Beneficiation including By-product Recovery and Waste Management, Environment – Green Mining, Climate Change and Mitigatory Measures, Workplace Safety and Health Issues, Technical Innovation : Specific Case Studies, Investment Opportunities in Mineral Sectors, Policy Matters and Mining Legislations, Merger and Acquisition in Mining Sector, Infrastructure and logistics, Application of Information Technology, Communication and other Smart Technologies like E-application, E-pricing, E-tendering, E-auction, etc.

Call for Papers : Technical Papers are invited from participants on the lead topics for the Congress. The last date for submission of Abstract is June 30, 2017 and Full and final papers will be required by August 31, 2017.

IME 2017 : MGMI & TAFCON joined hands to create a comprehensive and an all encompassing ideal platform for mine operators, planners and policy makers to discuss the various issues affecting the Mining Industry of the Asian Region in particular and also in the rest of the world.

BIENNIAL EVENT OF MGMI

Notice : MGMI Events

7TH ASIAN MINING CONGRESS & EXHIBITION 2017 NOVEMBER 8-11, 2017, KOLKATA, INDIA ON

“INTERNATIONAL COOpERATION IN INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGy fOR GROwTH Of MINERAL INDuSTRy”


Contact for Exhibition :

TAFCON PROJECTS INDIA PVT. LTD. 705, New Delhi House, 27 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi – 110001, India

Tel : +91-11-49857777 • Fax : +91-11-49857778 Email : [email protected]

Web : www.tafcon.com, Web : www.internationalminingexhibition.com

Contact Person : Amit Kumar, Mob : +91-9891296397

Contact for Conference :

THE MINING, GEOLOGICAL & METALLURGICAL INSTITUTE OF INDIA GN – 38/4, Salt Lake, Sector – V, Kolkata – 700 091, INDIA

Phone : +91 33 2357 3482 / 3987 / 6518 Telefax +91 33 23573482 Website : www.mgmiindia.in

E-mail : [email protected] / [email protected]

Principal Coordinators Dr NK Nanda : President, MGMI & Director (Technical), NMDC Prasanta Roy, Hony. Secretary, MGMI, Sr Manager, CIL

ORGANISERS

Conference (7th AMC) Exhibition

Chairman, Conference : AK Jha, CMD, MCL Chairman, Exhibition : BR Reddy, CMD, SECL

Chairman, : LK Bose, Former ED Chairman, Buyer : VK Arora, Chief Mentor, Technical Committee Coal India Limited Seller Meet KCT Bros. Ltd.

Co Chairman, : Dr Amalendu Sinha Convener, Exhibition : JP Goenka, MD, NMC Technical Committee Former Director, CSIR – CIMFR

Convener, Dr Debasish Sarkar, GM (HRD), CIL Conference


'Shivalik region getting fragile' : HC orders complete mining ban in Uttarakhand

NAINITAL, March 29, 2017 : Ordering a "complete ban" on all mining activities in the state for four months, the Uttarakhand high court on Tuesday directed the state government to constitute a high-powered committee to look into various aspects of mining activities and find out whether mining activity should be permitted in the state at all. The panel will also prepare a 50-year blueprint taking into consideration environment limits visa-vis mining operations. Hearing a PIL on illegal mining in Bageshwar district, the HC bench stated : "The high-powered panel is directed to submit an interim report within four months on whether the ongoing mining operations can be permitted or are required to be stopped. Till then, there shall be a complete ban on mining activities, including in forest areas, rivers, rivulets and streams." The order, by a bench of justices Rajiv Sharma and Sudhanshu Dhulia, came days after a forest official was mowed down allegedly by goons of mining mafia, sending shock wave in the state. The bench said, "The Shivalik region of the Himalayas is further getting fragile by mining activities. Mining activities are required to be regulated by the state to ensure that no illegal mining is carried out. It is also arbitrary on the part of the state to permit mining in the fragile areas. The mining activities are required to be carried out as per law. The state government is directed not to grant any fresh licence/mining lease/reconnaissance or prospecting licence, in any form till the final report is furnished by the high powered committee to this court."

The bench also directed the government to be "kept in abeyance" the lease granted in favour of private respondents till the above reports are

submitted. The petitioner, Navin Chandra Pant, claimed that the mining have caused threat to schools and residential houses and was being carried out within the radius of 20-metre from the residential houses. (Source : indiatimes.com/thru' ismenvis.nic.in/View General Latest News)

Govt to Review Minimum Distance Norm for QuarriesTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM, March 29, 2017 : At a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan here on Tuesday, it was decided to reconsider the norm of minimum distance to be maintained from forest boundaries by quarries for mining activities. The chief minister gave instructions to examine and consider scrapping the minimum distance norm from the Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2015. While the forest department has not given any strict guidelines with regard to distance from forest boundaries, according to the rules, no quarrying activities are allowed within 50m from the areas that border forests in the state. Also, the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has set the criterion that buffer zone of 200m should be maintained from the boundaries of vested forests, reserve forests and wildlife sanctuaries. Multiple rules have put the agencies that give clearance to various activities/projects in a fix. The meeting also decided that the rule that insists that a minimum distance of 100m should be maintained from roads, lakes, houses and rivers should be reconsidered, as it has affected several small quarries in the state. The chief minister said that the authorities should try clear the applications for quarry permits within 60 days, even though the rules allow a maximum

Regular Feature

NEWS UPDATE


of 105 days for clearance procedures. The meeting also decided to reduce the application fee for quarry permits to Rs 5,000 for 10 acres and Rs 5,000 for each additional 10 acres. At present, SEIAA charges from Rs 75,000 to Rs 2.50 lakh for permits. (Source : indiatimes.com/thru' ismenvis.nic.in/View General Latest News)

Bengal Coal Block Weighs Gas ScopeCalcutta, March 28 : Bengal Birbhum Coalfields Limited (BBCL), a joint venture of five states headed by Bengal, would explore underground coal gasification (to produce syngas) and plans to invite downstream units such as fertiliser companies to set up units and buy the gas as feedstock. Syngas, or synthesis gas, is a mix of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbondioxide that are found in the seams and can be used as fuel. Deocha Pachami Dewanganj Harisingha is the country's largest coal block with reserves of 2,102 million tonnes and spread across 21 villages in Birbhum. Besides Bengal, Karnataka, Bihar, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh along with public sector undertaking Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited are the stakeholders in the company. Industry sources pointed out two key challenges in operating the block, beside land and forest clearances. First, the coal seams are concealed within a thick cover of laterite, which means good grades of coal would be difficult and costly to lift out of the ground. As a result, drilling and overburden management could be a challenge. Besides, a consensus needs to be developed among all the stakeholders. Sources said that the Bengal government had sought priority over coal from the block because it held a majority 27.8 per cent stake.

Union coal minister Piyush Goyal in one of his earlier visits to Calcutta last year had said that the ministry was trying to explore how to simplify operations at the block.

Accordingly, the coal ministry is currently exploring whether the block can be allocated exclusively to state power utility West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited, and the other stakeholders can be given some alternative allocation. West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corporation is the state entity responsible to pick the developer for the block. (Source : The Telegraph)

Govt Desires to Exploit Rich Minerals to Enhance Economic StatusDate, March 28, 2017 : The government desires to exploit the rich minerals to enhance the economic status of the state with a view to uplift the living condition of the rural people where rich mineral deposits are available. This was stated in the annual administrative report 2016-17 of Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NSMDC) tabled on the floor of the House here today by parliamentary secretary for mechanical engineering and NSMDC Er. Vikho-o Yhoshii. Nagaland is richly endowed with a variety of minerals. The main established mineral reserves comprise of; petroleum and natural gas (prognosticated reserve of 600 million tonnes) in the northwest along Nagaland-Assam border, coal (with inferred reserve of 317 million tonnes) in Tuensang, Mon, Wokha, Longleng and Mokokchung districts, limestone & marble (with inferred reserve of 1000 million tonnes), magnetite with Nickel, Cobalt and Chromium (5 million tonnes of proved reserve), rich deposits of various decorative & dimensional stones and others associated metals like Zinc, Molybdenum and other possible precious metal such as Gold and Platinum groups (within ophiolites and meta sediments) in Phek, Kiphire, and Tuensang districts of south east Nagaland. The report stated that the successive plans have been formulated with the basic aim to


promote and facilitate mineral based industries in the state for economic growth as well as for generation of employment opportunities. (Source : morungexpress.com/thru' ismenvis.nic.in/View General Latest News)

NTPC okays Rs 3,000 cr investment for Talaipalli Coal Mining ProjectDate, March 28, 2017 : State-run power giant NTPC today said its board has approved investment of Rs 3,004 crore for Talaipalli Coal Mining Project which has an estimated 18 million tonnes per annum capacity in Chhattisgarh. "In line with the Corporate Disclosure requirements, we wish to inform that the Board of Directors of the Company has accorded investment approval for Talaipalli Coal Mining Project (18 Million Tonnes per annum) at an appraised current estimated cost of Rs 3,004 crore," NTPC Ltd said in a statement. NTPC has been allotted coal blocks namely, Pakri-Barwadih, Chatti-Bariatu, Kerandari, Dulanga, Talaipalli and Chatti-Bariatu (South), Banai, Bhalumunda and Mandakini B. These mines have total geological reserves of around 7.15 billion tonnes. These blocks have production potential of 107 MMTPA catering to requirement of 20,000 MW. Pakri Barwadih has block area of 46.26 sq km and mine capacity of 18 MTPA with mineable reserve of 641 MMT. (Source : moneycontrol.com/thru' ismenvis.nic.in/View General Latest News)

Ministry to Grade Coal India MinesKOLKATA MARCH 18, 2017 : The Coal Controller’s Organisation, a Coal Ministry outfit, has been tasked with grading and notifying the mines of Coal India Ltd. from April 2017. This marks a significant change from the present practice of internal grading by Coal India. This could also lead to a major change in the existing grades accorded to the mines. Until now, the grading was done by the coal-

producing subsidiaries of CIL and was vetted by the CCO, a CIL official said. The change has been triggered by a new thrust on quality following recurring complaints on coal quality and grade mismatch by coal consumers in both the power and the non-power sectors. It was felt that while CIL had geared itself up to produce coal as per demand, quality still remained an issue. “Frequently, during the third-party sampling of coal post-delivery, it was found that grade [determined on gross calorific value] was several notches lower,” a coal consumer said. “Quality has always been a major deterrent for India Coal,” a spokesperson of the Coal Consumers Association of India said adding that “in between coal-seams, presence of layers of stone and extraneous material lead to variation in grades.” (Source : The Hindu)

Coal Bed MethaneNew Delhi, March 15 : The cabinet approved pricing and marketing freedom to the producers of natural gas from coal seams (CBM) and also allowed them to sell the fuel to affiliates. The move will help operators such as Reliance Industries and ONGC to quickly commercialise their CBM blocks, reversing the trend of investors relinquishing these blocks because of viability issues. The operators will have to sell the gas at arm's length price. They will have to ensure a fully transparent and competitive bidding process from amongst users of the CBM gas "with the objective that the best possible price is realised for the gas without any restrictive commercial practices," the government statement said. Also, the companies have been permitted to sell the CBM gas to any of their affiliates if they cannot identify any buyer. "Royalty and other dues to the government, however, shall be payable on the basis of Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) notified prices or selling prices, whichever is higher," the statement said. (Source : The Telegraph)


Policy Pill for Crude OutputNew Delhi, March 13 : The country aims to double its crude oil production to 155 million tonnes with the new oil and gas exploration policy. The increase in output will help to meet the surge in domestic demand with India seen to surpass China as the largest consumer by 2022. The Open Acreage Licensing Policy will give companies pricing and marketing freedom as well as give them the flexibility to carve out their areas for exploration. The new policy is part of the strategy to make India an investor-friendly destination and achieve the target of doubling oil production to 150-155 million tonnes by 2022 from 80 million tonnes at present, petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said. India's demand for oil will outpace China by 2022. The country overtook Japan as the world's third-largest crude oil consumer in 2016 behind the US and China, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said in a report.

India has a per capita oil consumption of 1.2 barrels per year, which is expected to reach 1.5 barrels by 2022. India's oil imports have swelled to 202 million tonnes in 2016 from just 34 million tonnes in 1997. The Narendra Modi government's focus on infrastructure growth is likely to add to India's growing appetite for oil. This could coincide with a period of high oil prices. One of the key features of the new exploration policy is that it permits investors to select the blocks after accessing the geological data. They can submit the expressions of interest without waiting for a formal bid round. (Source : The Telegraph)

Digha to Khulna, a Gas LinkNew Delhi, Feb. 26 : H-Energy, a subsidiary of Hiranandani Group, has proposed a pipeline to supply natural gas from Digha to the Khulna power plant in Bangladesh. The firm has sought the approval of the Petroleum and Natural

Gas Regulatory Board to set up the 275-km pipeline from Kanai Chatta in East Midnapore district to Shrirampur in Khulna at an estimated cost of about Rs 1,300 crore. The regulatory board has asked those interested to submit their views or objections "to ascertain whether, instead of a dedicated pipeline, public interest would be better served if a natural gas pipeline is laid, built, operated". The views have to be submitted by March 10. H-Energy is setting up a floating storage regasification unit on the east coast with capacity to convert 3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of imported LNG to natural gas in the offshore region of Digha. The regasification unit will be connected by a 115km sub-sea pipeline to a land fall point close to Kanai Chatta near Digha and is expected to be commissioned by March 2021. H-Energy had received the contract to build the unit in August 2015 from Calcutta Port Trust. The North West Power Generation Company (NWPGCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bangladesh Power Development Board, has signed an MoU to purchase regasified-LNG. The Bangladesh company is setting up an 800-mega-watt plant in Khulna, which will use both LNG as well as diesel. (The Telegraph)

NMDC to buy Stake in Vietnam-based Masan ResourcesHyderabad, February 19, 2017 : State-owned iron ore miner NMDC Ltd is in discussions with Vietnam-based Masan Resources to acquire a "considerable stake" in its Nui Phao polymetallic mine, sources close to the development said. The mine, which has rich reserves of tungsten mineral, is located in Thai Nguyen province in Northern Vietnam. At present, India mostly imports tungsten for its domestic requirements due to high production cost of the metal. A decision will be reached only after a due diligence," sources told. According to Masan Resources Annual Report-2015, it has become


the world's largest tungsten miner and producer, accounting for around 30 per cent of the total global supply of the metal. The Nui Phao polymetallic mine has probable ore reserves of 66 million tonnes. India's requirements are being met partially through recovery from scrap and imports. (Source : News Nation)

Big Push for Mine AuctionNew Delhi, Feb. 15 : The government will put up for auction some 280 mines, having a total mineral wealth of Rs 10 lakh crore, later this year, officials said. "Some 280 mines are being planned to be put up for auction in the next fiscal ... these have a mineral wealth of over Rs 10 lakh crore," mines secretary Balvinder Kumar said here today. The mines to be auctioned have major minerals, including iron ore, bauxite and limestone, said officials. So far, 21 mining leases have been auctioned with a cumulative resource value of around Rs 94,000 crore. Kumar said in the near future drones would be used to prepare topography maps and inspect mines. "Drone technology will be used to monitor mines in any area. IBM will start this. Drones will help in preparing topography maps in a few hours, which takes many days manually," he said. Kumar also talked about a web portal to give one-stop clearance to prospective licensees applying for exploration of mineral blocks. India had earlier come out with a new mineral exploration policy that encouraged e-auction of both mining licences and exploration blocks identified by the Geological Survey of India for detailed exploration. In case of successful finds, a share of the royalty will go to the exploration firm. (Source : The Telegraph)

ECL to Set up Eco-tourism Unit in Salanpur14 Feb. Sanctoria : Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), the subsidiary of CIL is planning to set up the country's second Eco-Mine Study and

Adventure Tourist project in Salanpur near Asansol. The first such pilot project in the country has been kicked off in Nagpur under WCL, where already foreign tourists have started pouring in. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also appreciated the project in his Man Ki Baat programme on radio. There is an abandoned open cast coal mine, Dalmia Colliery which has been filled with water and now looks like a blue lagoon. Besides, the existing Dabur and Bonjemmary Open Cast Coal Mine also will be utilised for the purpose. Thus Salanpur area will be developed for the eco-park. (Source : Statesman)

India’s First Copper Mine Auction in Rajasthan Hit the SkidsIndia’s first copper mine auction has hit the skids with few takers for the mine licence in Ajmer district offered by the Rajasthan state government. Along with the copper block, Rajasthan had also floated NITs for grant of mining leases for four limestone mines in the districts of Chittaurgarh and Nagaur with total reserves of 613.58 million tonne (MT). According to the model tender document issued by the Rajasthan government, there is a provision which states that in the event of technically qualified bidders being less than three, no one shall be considered to be a qualified bidder and the e-auction process shall be annulled. This comes at a time when India’s first diamond mine auction in Madhya Pradesh was also declared void on account of only two companies clearing the technical qualification round, as reported by InfraCircle on 29 July. Confirming the development, a state government official, who did not want to be named, said the state government may float fresh NITs to bid for the deposits. The above-mentioned copper block in Rajasthan is spread over an area of 484.59 hectares and has geological reserves of 1.12 MT of copper ore.


Experts believe that low deposit in the mines and depressed prices is a matter of concern for miners. The size of the Indian copper industry is around 500,000 tonnes, which as a percentage of the world copper market is only 3%. (Source : Infracircle)

Jharkhand Invites Bids for its Second Gold Mine AuctionThe Jharkhand state government intends to auction yet another gold deposit and has issued a notice inviting tender (NIT) for grant of mining lease for Parasi block. The eastern state remains undaunted by its failure to find bidders for its first gold mine auction under the composite licence route for Pahadia block and has reissued NIT for it. The block called Parasi, spread across 69.240 hectares near Tamar in Jharkhand, contains gold and other minerals according to the NIT on the website of MSTC Ltd. The minerals available at the Parasi deposit include 9.894 million tonne (MT) of gold ore, with 1.055% of gold content, besides 8.90 tonne of silver, 82.46 tonnes of lead, 369.54 tonne of nickel, 230.33 tonne of cobalt, 98.94 tonne of molybdenum, 103.88

tonnes of tin and 102.40 tonne of gallium. The latest initiative of the Jharkhand government comes in the backdrop of the ministry of mines working on a road map to raise the annual mineral production by 21-22% to add one percentage point to the country’s gross domestic product. According to the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 (MMDR), state governments have been empowered to conduct auction of mines, excluding coal and lignite. However, auctions get cancelled if there are less than three bidders for a specific block. Till date, only seven mines have been auctioned across various states, including Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. The first gold mine (Baghmara) was auctioned by the Chhattisgarh government in February this year and was won by Vedanta Ltd. The deposit, with a reserve of 2,700kg, will create revenue of Rs. 81.40 crore for the state, along with existing royalty of Rs. 24.70 crore. India has rich gold deposits spread across various states, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. (Source : InfraCircle)q

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins - not through strength but by perseverance.

- H. Jackson Brown


AbstrActBlack cotton soils (B.C.S) are problematic for engineering more so in tropical countries like India because of wide temperature variation and because of dry and wet seasons, leading to wide variation in moisture content of soil. With change of water content it causes swelling, shrinkage excessively, changes plasticity, permeability, compaction and shear index. The properties of B.C. soil can be modified by stabilising with use of Lime in various proportions. Lime stabilisation of subgrade is one of the oldest forms of stabilisation and sometimes the least understood. Stabilisation of clay sub grades using quicklime has a long and successful history in many urban and rural regions. It is efficient and cost effective in rural roads inducing long life and requiring minimum maintenance. It increases stiffness, increases CBR, reduces plasticity, reduces soil swell potential, helps in quick drying of wet soil to allow early compaction, forms water resistance barrier by restricting moisture penetration from above and below. Kotah Stone quarry waste which is basically low grade limestone, on calcination at about 9500C, can produce quicklime containing 62-63% CaO. Such lime can be utilised for lime treatment of subgrade used in rural roads, either as quicklime or hydrated lime after slaking at site. It is perhaps be the most economical source of lime for subgrade treatment of rural roads in Distt of Kota, Baran, Bundi & Jhalawar in Eastern Rajasthan.

Keywords : Black Cotton Soil, Lime, Roads, CBR.

Technical Article

KotAh stone QuArry WAste : An economicAl source of QuicK lime

in lime StabiliSation of Soil in RuRal RoadSs. c. Agarwal1 and Ashish Agarwal2

1. introductionStabilisation of sub-grades using Lime is one of the oldest form of stabilisation especially in rural regions seeking long life roads and minimise maintenance. Stabilisation of clay sub-grade using quick-lime has a long and successful history being cost effective.

Why use lime :

l To increase sub-grade stiffness.

l To reduce the PI of in-situ material.

l To enhance volumetric stability for the top layer of select material,

l To modify sub-base layers to improve stiffness of the road.

1. B.Sc. (Min. Engg.), MGMI, MEAI, FCC (Coal & Metal), Recipient of National Mineral Award-03, Kota, India Formerly President of A.S.I.(K) Ltd., email : [email protected]

2. Co-Author : Ashish Agarwal B.E. in Mining, Sr. Executive SBI, Ahmedabad (India) email : [email protected]


In order to understand the properties of lime and its reaction with soil we may know :

1. Types of lime being used,

2. How does lime works with soil,

3. How to manufacture lime,

4. Determination of rate of application,

5. Mixing operation,

6. Computation of costs.

2. types of lime used

The word lime is a ‘generic’ term used to describe either quick lime or hydrated lime (but not limestone or agriculture lime). Quick lime is manufactured by processing limestone at 9000C through fluid bed kiln or rotary shaft kiln. For soil stabilisation we need to treat it with either Quick lime or Hydrated (Slaked) lime.

2.1 composition of two grades of lime :

hydrated lime : Ca(OH)2, used in fine powder.

Qu i ck l ime CaO, used i n g ranu la r CaCO3 + Heat = CaO + CO2

slaking means : CaO + H2O = Ca(OH)2 + Heat Meaning thereby natural limestone can not be used unless processed in form of Quick lime or hydrated (slaked) lime.

3. how Does lime Works

Hydrated lime in presence of water chemically reacts with pozzolans material containing silica and aluminium present subgrade material used in road making. The lime’s reaction with soil is two-fold. Firstly it agglomerates fine clay particles into coarse, friable particles subsequently dewatering the clay. Secondly the lime raises the pH to above 12, which encourages chemical reactions that leads to the

formation of calcium silicates and aluminates. These complex reaction initially forms as a gel which coats and binds soil particles as chemical processes move toward through crystalisation stage as they form hydrates. Since process is temperature dependent, it may take many months to reach completion. This leads to steady strength gain in improving CBR values. The chemical reaction with pozzolony material in soil dramatically reduces the plasticity of the soil, increases workability and improve its compaction characteristics.

3.1 lime reactivity with soil

Quick lime is used extensively for subgrade( soil) stabilisation in heavy clays. Quicklime is converted to hydrated lime either at the manufacturing plant or by the addition of water at site. The process of Slaking by addition of water to the quicklime is exothermic reaction generating heat and steam.

3.2 Material Properties of Lime Stabilisation

Lime stabilisation has significant effect on the engineering properties detailed, which helps in designing consideration.

l The plasticity index decreases as much as four times.

l Substantial change in moisture density which changes physical properties of soil upon lime treatment.

l Soil swell potential and swelling pressure are significantly reduced.

l Soil swell potential and swelling pressure are significantly.

l Lime, especially quick lime aids immediate drying of wet soil. This allows compaction to proceed quickly.

l It increases CBR from 3 upto 20 with only treatment.


l Lime layers forms water resistance barrier impeding penetration of moisture from above and below.

4. indian scenarioEastern part of state Raj (India) covering four Distt Kota, Jhalawar, Bundi and Baran predominantly consist of Black Cotton Soil in varying thickness from 0.25 Mtr to 2Mtr.

The BCS is not suitable for road making on account of its volumetric changes. It swells and shrinks excessively with change of water content. Table-1: General Characteristics of B.C.S.

sl. Properties Values1. Dr Density 1300-1800kg/cm2. Fines <75 microns 70 to 100%3. Plastic Limits 20 to 60%4. Activity 0.8 to 18%5. Max Dry Density 20 to 35%6. Swelling Index 50-800kN/sqm7. C.B.R. 1.2 to 4.08. Compression

Index0.2 to 0.5

table-2 : chemical composition of b.c.s.

sl. Property range1. pH Value. 7.12 to 7.6 (Alk)2. CaCO3 0.7 to 2.1%

3. Sio3 27 to 43%4. Sio3 & Al2O3 3 to 5 %

It also contains other minerals in form of clay and Kankar.Black cotton soils are problematic for engineering more so in tropical countries like India because of wide temperature variation and because of dry and wet seasons, leading to wide variation in moisture content of soil. It causes swelling, shrinkage, plasticity, permeablity, compaction and shear index.

5. supply of lime for rural roads

For rural roads you need to have most economical source of lime, preferably from local sites. For making rural roads in the Eastern Region of Rajasthan covering Distt Kota, Baran, Jhalawar and Bundi, Kotah Stone may perhaps be the cheapest source to provide active lime, suitable for soil stabilisation.

5.1 Kotah stone Waste

Kotah Stone is naturally flaggy limestone which on splitting yields slabs and tiles. Over last six decades Kotah stone has been extensively used as an excellent flooring stone. It is basically low grade limestone. Kotah Stone rocks occurs in abundance in Distt of Kota and Jhalawar, Raj. Mining for Kotah stone has been going since 1945.

Fig-1. Mining for Kotah Stone

During extraction a large quantity of waste is generated which has piled up in form of man-made mountains. As on today over +650Mill T of the quarry waste has been piled up in the region covering Ramganjmandi-Chechat-Jhalawar. Further some +20 Mill T of such waste is being generated annually.


Fig-2. Man-made Mountains of Kotah Stone Quarry Waste

5.2 on analysis, this quarry waste is found to contain :

table 3 : chemic al Analysis of Quarry Waste

sl. Properties Values1. CaO 37.85 ( 68.13% CaCO3)2. Sio2 23.5%3. MgO 1.25%4. Al2O3 3.10%5. Fe2O3 1.94%

Since the waste contains high silica and low lime, is not suitable for cement manufacturing even after blending with high grade limestone is not economical feed to the plant.

6. to manufacture Quicklime from Kotah stone Waste rock

Calcination of limestone is a complicated process. The decomposition starts 8980C. Depending on various impurities the decomposition may complete at higher temp. Kotah Stone rocks, beside calcite mineral, contains impurities in form Al2O3, Fe2O3, SiO2, MgO, and the decomposition completes between 950-1050C. The decomposition of limestone leads to a

chemical process :

CaCO3 + Heat = CaO + CO2

CaO is defined as quick lime.

Calcination in Vertical mixed feed Shaft Kiln is found to be the efficient system for Kotah Stone where the flow of material is truly counter current. Kotah stone broken in small size, blended, in certain proportion, with coal, is fed from the top of kiln and in the course of the descent they extract heat from the exit gasses into the kiln.

The air which enters at the bottom of the kiln extracts the heat from down coming lime. The result is that the heat from the discharge lime as well the out going gases is retrieved considerably. When the Kotah stone and the fuel(coal) as well as air, travelling in opposite direction, reach the zone of calcination, they all are sufficiently preheated. The fuel burns in the immediate vicinity of limestone and no problems of transfer of heat are involved.

It has been observed that it takes about 4hrs to complete the decomposition of kotah stone. When the temperature of the upper portion of the kiln began to fall continuously, kiln is covered and allowed to cool and lime is taken out. The calcined product is discharged from the 4 openings provided in the bottom in all four sides of the kiln.

Over burning of lime reduces it’s reactivity. Over burning will also result in impurities in the lime (mainly silica, alumina,and iron) forming cement clinker minerals, further reducing the calcium content available for reaction with water. Chemical Analysis of the Calcinate of Kotah Stone obtained at different temps from 950 to 1100 0C after 4hrs as recorded below :


table : 4 temp of calcination 0c

con-tent %

9500 c 10000 c 10500

c11000

cLOI 1.561 0.17 0.16 NILSio2 30.04 30.82 30.84 30.75Al203 2.08 2.09 2.06 2.20Fe2O3 1.76 1.75 1.78 1.61CaO 61.76 62.71 62.85 62.79MgO 1.52 1.55 1.50 1.51

Analytical study of Lime manufactured from Kotah Stone reveals :

Available Lime (CaO) = 62-63%

Available Lime Index as Ca(OH)2 = 82-83%

Where 1.0 CaO = 0.76 Ca(OH)2

From the physico-chemical tests of the calcinate and analytical study, it is found that the calcinate so manufactured from Kotah Stone waste, is acceptable quality of hydraulic lime.

7. rate of ApplicationIn the field quicklime is used extensively and slaked at site to form hydrated lime. The slaking is said to be complete when there is no steaming and no further temperature rise.

Lime application normally is rated as a % or kg/sq mt. The proportion depends on Available Lime Index expressed as” available CaO” or “available Ca(OH)2”.

Road authorities normally prescribe soil stabilisation depth of 200mm and dry density of material is 1900kg/m3.

Rate of application can be specified as % of quicklime.

Rate of spread as kg/m3 of quicklime

The % or kg/m3 depends on Lime Index in the material available, either as Quicklime or Hydarated lime.

7.1 Processing of mixing

Adequate mixing is essential to have satisfactory results in lime stabilisation. Some soils only require one-pass mixing, heavier more plastic soils requires multiple pass mixing.

one-pass mixing : Such applicable for low application rate. Prior to mixing soil may be ripped to fasten drying. After the first pass the mixed material may be lightly rolled to minimise the risk of water penetrating the sub-grade.

two-pass : It consist of a preliminary mixing of half the lime with adequate curing. It helps in distributing the lime through out the soil. This is followed by second pass mixing with the 2nd half material to complete stabilisation process.

8. computation of cost of calcination of Kotah stone Waste

target capacity : 50T of calcined lime per day in 5kilns@10T each.

Kotah stone waste : 62.5 T@Rs 20/T = Rs 1250.00

Coal@12% or 7.5T@Rs 3500/T = Rs 26250.00

Labour: 50@Rs 350/0 = Rs 17500.00

Operator 5 @Rs 450/0 = Rs 2250.0

Supervisory/Admn/4 : Rs 42,500/Month or Rs. 1680.0/day

Depr/Maint/Int :@ Rs 5/T = Rs 250/day

Total expenditure/day for production of 50T calcined lime = Rs 49180.0 or Rs 983.6/T of Quick Lime, or Rs 780.00/T of slaked lime.

The cost of calcinate Kotah stone waste in vertical kiln as on today is about Rs 984/T of calcined lime, assuming nominal cost of KS waste (containing 38% CaO) @ Rs 20/t only. If


the cost of quarry lime waste decreases, cost of calcinate will reduce proportionately.

9. computation of lime requirement treatment of soil in rural roads

Width of Bitumen rural road is 3.75 mt with earthen shoulders of 1.125 mt each on both sides = 6Mtr

Lime quantity required for treatment of soil :

Slaked lime : 20kg/ sq mtr

Lime for 1km rural road of 6 mtr width : 1000x6x20÷1000=120T

Taking cost of slaked lime@780/t total cost of lime will be : INR120x780 = INR 93,600/km or say INR 94,000/ km of road.

Note : This cost of slaked/ quicklime is as obtained from calcination of Kotah Stone quarry waste.

10. conclusionEastern Region of Rajasthan covering distt of Kota, Jhalawar, Baran and Bundi is predominantly covered with black cotton soil with high plasticity, low CBR values and high moisture. The soil can not be used as it is in road making in rural area. Lime treatment is perhaps the best solution for soil stabilisation to improve CBR and restrict penetration of moisture from above and below.

During test conducted by Mr Shailendra Singh (Ref 7), it is observed that by addition of 4% and 6% Lime, CBR value improved 6 to 7.5 times respectively.

Huge Kotah Stone quarry waste in available in the region at no cost. This quarry waste can be economically calcined to Quicklime. It offers a best source of Lime for efficient and effective use for soil stabilisation in making roads for rural area.

* It is an environ- friendly use of Kotah Stone quarry waste. Some 150 T of quarry waste will be recycled to yield good quantity of quick-lime, sufficient enough to stabilise effectively 1Km of rural road on black-cotton soil.

references/bibliography :1. AustStab Technical Note, No. 1 May 2002

2. Feasibil i ty For The Manufacture of Hydraulic Lime From Quarry Waste, CBRI, Roorkee.

3. Dave, N.G. Efficient Calcination in Lime Kiln, Indian Chemical Journal 7,19 (1971)

4. IS : 1861-1961; Code of practice for manufacture of Lime in Vertical Mixed Feed type kiln, ISI, N. Delhi

5. Specif icat ion for Lime Use In Soi l Stabilisation : NZ Transport Agency, Walka Kotahi : 2012

6. Stabilisation of Black Cotton Soil Using Lime : Shailendra Singh, Vol 4, Issue 5, May 2015

7. Stabilisation of Black Cotton Soil with Lime and Geo-grid : Sujit Kawade/others, Pune, IJRAE, ISSN : 2349-2163 q


Australia, rich in energy commodities, is one of the world’s top producers and exporters of fossil fuels and uranium. The country’s stable political environment, relatively transparent regulatory structure, substantial hydrocarbon reserves, and its proximity to Asian markets make it an attractive location for investment in energy production and mining. Although, in the past few years, Australia’s energy projects, particularly LNG export facilities, have faced escalating costs, creating some challenges to companies developing hydrocarbon resources there.

Except for crude oil and other liquids, Australia holds a surplus of all other energy commodities. In 2015, Australia was the world’s largest coal exporter (based on both weight and energy content) and the second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Energy exports accounted for 39% of Australia’s total export revenues in fiscal year 2015. Australia is one of the few countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that is a significant net energy exporter.

Country’s policy involves developing more resources and energy infrastructure, attracting foreign investment, fostering more competition, creating efficient and transparent energy markets and pricing mechanisms for consumers, streamlining regulations, enhancing energy technology innovation and skilled labour, and delivering cleaner and more sustainable energy to the domestic market. More recently, Australia’s expanding energy industry has encountered escalating project costs and a shortage of labour. These factors, along with a bigger push for stricter environmental regulations in some states, low international commodity prices and their negative effect on

revenues, and oversupplied regional markets pose challenges to investment in developing Australia’s energy resources.

Primary Energy ConsumptionAustralia has experienced limited energy demand growth because of lower levels of energy intensity compared with a few decades ago. Energy efficiency measures in many end-use sectors, technological advances, and a shift from heavy industries to a more service-sector oriented economy have resulted in a decrease in Australia’s energy intensity.

Australia is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for its primary energy consumption. In 2015, petroleum and other liquids accounted for an estimated 39% of the country’s total energy consumption. The share of oil consumption has risen in the past few years as it supports the country’s commodity production growth, mining, and petrochemical industries as well as the transportation sector. The recent closing of some of the country’s refineries and the high oil prices before 2015 caused a downtick in primary oil consumption relative to other fuels.

CoalAustralia is the world’s largest coal exporter on a weight and energy content basis, and coal ranks as the second-largest export commodity for Australia in terms of revenue. The country is one of the key sources of coal in the world, and the commodity plays a significant role in the country’s economy. Australia was the largest coal exporter for more than two decades until Indonesia surpassed Australia in terms of coal exports on a weight-basis between 2011 and 2014. Australia recaptured the top position of highest global exporter in 2015. Metallurgical

Focus

AustrAliA’s EnErgy sEctor


coal, used mostly for iron and steel production, is Australia’s second-largest export commodity, behind iron ore, in terms of revenues. Australia exported about US $28 billion worth of coal (both metallurgical and thermal coal used for power generation and other industries) in FY 2015, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Revenues have declined overall as a result of the weak global coal prices over the past few years.

In 2014, Australia held 117 billion short tons (Bst) of recoverable coal reserves, the fourth-largest in the world behind the United States, Russia, and China. The Australian government estimates recoverable proved and probable reserves to be 138 Bst at the end of 2014, with about half from black coal and half from brown coal. Black coal, which has a higher energy content, can produce more energy than the same volume of brown coal.

Australian coal is typically high quality with low ash content. Most of the country’s coal is located in the eastern regions. Together, the states of Queensland and NSW (Sydney and Bowen basins) accounted for virtually all of Australia’s black coal production in 2015, and Victoria (Gippsland basin) in the southeastern region accounted for 96% of brown coal

production. Black coal, which accounts for a vast majority of Australia’s coal production, is typically exported, and brown coal, or lignite, is used largely for domestic electricity generation.

Coal and natural gas accounted for 33% and 24%, respectively, of the energy demand portfolio in 2015. The government promoted policies in recent years to reduce coal consumption, particularly in the power sector, in favour of cleaner fuels. The share of natural gas use has increased over the past decade, particularly in the electricity and mining sectors, and that fuel has replaced some coal and oil use. Renewable sources, including hydroelectricity, wind, solar, and biomass, accounted for slightly more than 5% of total consumption.

As part of the country’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2020, Australia implemented a fixed-price tax on carbon dioxide emissions to be paid by the top emitting companies in July 2012. This tax led to an increase in natural gas and renewable energy use, particularly in the electricity sector, and a replacement of coal-fired power. However, the carbon tax was repealed in July 2014 to remove the financial burden on industries that were required to pay for releasing

Black Coal 43%

Brown Coal 20%

Natural Gas 21%

Figure 10. Australia's electricity generation by source, 2015

Solar 2%

Oil 3%

Bioenergy 1%

Hydro 5%

Note : Fiscal Year 2015 is July 2014 to June 2015 Source : Austrialian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Wind 5%

Natural Gas 24%

Figure 2. Australia's primary energy consumption, 2015

Petroleum and other liquids

38%

Coal 21%

Note : Numbers may not add because of rounding Source : Austrialian government, Department of environment and Energy, Australian Energy Update 2016

Hydroelectricity 1%

Other renewables 5%


emissions. The carbon tax put downward pressure on coal consumption during the two years of its existence, but the removal of this tax and low coal prices increased coal’s fuel share in the energy balance. Australia’s current energy policies may temper the expected pace of growth in renewable energy use because these sources are currently more expensive to develop than fossil fuels. However, Australia announced a new GHG emissions reduction target of 26% to 28% from 2005 levels by 2030, which is likely to promote the use of cleaner fuels in the longer term.

Petroleum and Other LiquidsAustralia held more than 1.8 billion barrels of proved oil reserves at the end of 2016, according to the Oil & Gas Journal (OGJ). The Australian government reported economic reserves, which include proved and probable reserves, of nearly 5.4 billion barrels (22% crude oil, 52% condensates, and 26% liquid petroleum gas (LPG)). Most Australian crude oil is a light, sweet grade, typically low in sulfur and wax, and therefore higher in value than the heavier crudes. Most of reserves are located off the coasts of the states of Western Australia (Carnarvon and Browse basins), Victoria (Gipplsand basin), and the Northern Territory (Bonaparte basin). Onshore basins, mostly found in the Cooper basin, account for only 10% of the country’s oil resources.

Australia is a net importer of crude oil and refined petroleum products, although the country exports some petroleum liquids.

Natural Gas Australia produces enough natural gas to cover its consumption and to be considered a leading gas exporter. Several recent discoveries and growing regional demand for natural gas have spurred more investment activity in the country’s reserves. Australia’s natural gas

reserves vary by industry source and the category of commercial viability. According to OGJ, Australia’s proved natural gas reserves were more than 30 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) as of December 2015. Geoscience Australia estimated total proved plus probable commercial reserves at 114 Tcf (62% conventional natural gas, 38% coal bed methane (CBM), and less than 1% tight gas) as of 2014. Almost all conventional gas resources (about 95%) are located in the North West Shelf (NWS) offshore in the Carnarvon, Browse, and Bonaparte basins and in the Gippsland basin in the southeastern region.

Coal Bed Methane and Shale GasAustralia has sizeable, untapped natural gas resources in the form of coal bed methane (CBM), known as coal seam gas in Australia, and shale gas. Commercial production from CBM, which began in 1996, rose to 424 Bcf in 2015, 50% higher than in 2014. This production increase corresponds with the commencement of the country’s first CBM-to-LNG export terminals in Queensland over the past two years.37

Several CBM projects in the Surat and Bowen basins are under development to serve three new LNG projects in Queensland. CBM wells typically produce less gas than conventional wells and at slower rates, requiring upstream partners to develop more fields to fulfill LNG requirements. Investors face challenges with project delays based on greater public resistance to potential environmental impacts. Australia is attempting to balance its dual interests of increasing investment and exploitation of these resources as well as developing them in a sustainable and environmentally safe way. NSW, Queensland, and the federal government have established environmental regulations, particularly those related to water use and disposal and land rights in CBM and shale gas


projects. Queensland established more austere water safety and management policies for CBM producers in 2010. In 2013, NSW enacted a natural gas plan that restricts CBM production near residential areas and small industries.

UraniumThe country holds the world’s largest proved recoverable reserves of uranium (about 29%) and was the third-largest producer of uranium used for nuclear-powered electricity in 2015, according to the World Nuclear Association. Although the country is rich in

uranium, Australia has no nuclear-powered electricity generation capacity and exports all of its uranium production. Australia sent about 68% of its total energy production (includes uranium exports and excludes total energy imports) overseas in fiscal year 2015 (July 2014–June 2015), according to data from the Australian government.q

(Source : Report of eia on Australia) (For more information on Austral ia ’s energy sector, visit http://www.eia.gov/beta/international/analysis.cfm?iso=AUS. and/or Contact : [email protected])

God's promises are like the stars; the darker the night the brighter they shine.

- David Nicholas

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson


Generally opencast mining is considered to be more safe in comparison to underground mining. The mine accident in Lalmatia opencast coal mine of Rajmahal Area of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) is an eye opener in respect of mine slope stability and accident in opencast mines.

As the preliminary report goes (detailed investigation Report is awaited) an incidence of overburden dump/solid coal slide had occurred in the second shift of 29.12.2016 at about 7.30 P.M. in the Rajmahal Open Cast Expansion Project in district Goda, Jharkhand of ECL causing unfortunate demise of 18 workers. An Inquiry has been ordered in the incident by the Director General of Mines Safety and a High Level Committee of Experts has been constituted by Coal India Limited to investigate into the cause of the accident.

While detailed cause of the accident will come out after investigation, prima facie, it is observed that the incidence is unprecedented, since an area of 300 m length by 110 m wide solid floor of the Over Burden Dump area had slid down by about 35 m involving around 9.5 million cubic meters of earth material. This could be due to failure of the bench edge along the hidden fault line/slip. In the past there had been instances of shifting of overburden causing landslides. But in this case it seems the solid strata had shifted and a massive mound of earth came crashing down killing 18 work persons and more than a dozen excavators and dump trucks swamped under the debris (a glimpse can be seen in the cover picture). This is the worst such disaster in over a decade.

Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDIL), the consultancy arm of Coal India Ltd,

deployed magneto meters along with imaging system for locating magnetic and conductive material up to a depth of 80 meters to locate the buried equipments. As report received till writing this editorial, 18 bodies have been recovered from below the debris and 13 excavators and trucks, swamped under the debris, have been recovered from the accident site.

The accident brought out a grim picture of the safety in opencast mines. Usually it is thought that underground mines are more prone to accidents due to roof fall etc. This incidence revealed that opencast mining needs to be planned more closely from the view point of sliding of solid strata, particularly when the strata being mined is inclined and having hidden faults and slips in the geological structure.

Union coal and power minister Piyush Goyal reviewed the safety measures implemented by Coal India and its subsidiaries after the accident and said, “We have drawn up a road map of what we will be doing going forward so that the standards of safety are high and ensure as far as possible zero accident in coal mining activities. We have taken decisions in terms of strengthening the safety infrastructure, conducting safety audits and have committed to spend on modern equipment, which will warn us in case of impending accidents.”

It is suggested that presence of hidden slips in the inclined coal and coal bearing strata, which are normally not explored and neither given cognisance during planning and extraction, have to be given due consideration while designing opencast benches to prevent sliding of solid strata from the upper benches down to the lower working benches. For the purpose, besides identifying presence of hidden slips, if

Bid to improve safety in coal mines

Safety & Health Issues


any, through close study of the bore hole data as well as daily inspection of benches from geological point of view, particularly in inclined seams, would be necessary as the OB/coal faces progress. The CMPDIL may explore some easy and practicable way of identifying hidden slips in strata being worked in the opencast mines. We appreciate the view of the Coal Minister for setting up geotech cells manned by geologists in all mega projects of Coal India to look at slope stability. Safety audit of the Opencast mines should include this point along with other aspects like fire, gas leak and inundation, etc. in case of underground mines. We hope these points will be duly covered in the recommendations of the Accident Investigation Report of the Lalmatia opencast mine.

A further point to note that the mining activities in Rajmahal Opencast Project was off-loaded to a private company on behalf of ECL. This is now a regulator practice for Block development. As per terms of the contract although mining is being done by the contractor, responsibility of safety lies with the owner of the mine, ECL in this case. It is not unlikely to apprehend that safety considerations in such arrangement get overlooked at the cost of lives of the work persons. Hopefully the investigation report will cover this point too in case there is any folly on the part of private mine developer and any laxity on the part of the principal owner of the mine ECL. The investigation report should produce a frame work in this respect for future guidance.

R e a d e r s m a y l i k e t o g o t h r o u g h an extract f rom the Porta l (ht tp : / /ismenvis.nic.in/ViewGeneralLatestNews.aspx?Id=14130&Year=2017) of Indian School of Mines (IIT) Dhanbad on Mines Safety as quoted below under the following caption:

Mining accidents: Management glitches, supervisory oversight to blame

“Even as investigation work on the official inquiry report into the mine collapse at Eastern Coalfields Ltd’s Lal Matia coal mine in Jharkhand on December 29 is underway, initial accounts from the accident site offer clear pointers to the mine being operated under sub-optimal safety conditions — which could place the onus on the management for what was one of the biggest accident in an open cast mine that left at least 18 people dead.

If the reports were to indict the management, this would be in keeping with the broader trend of accidents in the coal sector, where the responsibility for at least 63 per cent of the documented accidents in coal mines over the last three years (114 out of 181 cases) have been apportioned to the management and the supervisory staff.

The sector has seen a fatality every seven days in the last three years, making it arguably the most dangerous profession in India. An analysis of the inquiry conducted by the Office of Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Ministry of Labour and Employment, of mine accidents between 2014-2017, shows that of the 181 major incidents, the management and, or the Subordinate Supervisory Staff, have been found responsible in an overwhelming 77 cases. Among the causes of these accidents, which has been compiled separately by the DGMS, an overwhelming 38 per cent of the cases involved dumpers, loading machines and other heavy earth moving machines, while roof falls accounted for another 12 per cent of the total 181 cases investigated.

This is bad news in a sector where the safety record is far from inspiring. Latest figures for the first six months of 2016 show that in coal mining operations at just the two key public sector mining utilities — Coal India Ltd and Neyveli Lignite Corporation — there was a


“serious accident” every three days and a fatality every seven days. The trend in fatalities in the first half of 2016 showed that the situation had worsened compared to 2015, where there were 38 fatal accidents involving an equal number of fatalities. The two other grim statistics, updated till October 2016, is that the compensation for disability or death — ranging between Rs 5.4 lakh to Rs 8.5 lakh per person — is under process for long. And that a number of those who perish are contract workers, who, or their immediate families, have practically no safety net apart from this payout.

Broadly though, the trend of average fatality rate and the number of serious accidents have been coming down over the years. That may be a cold comfort for policymakers considering that for extracting 100 million tonnes of coal, seven lives were lost on an average in 2015.

Considering 2015-16’s coal production target of 700 million tonnes, the annual fatality rate works out to nearly 50 for the 12 months. An uptick in the economy, experts point out, could invariably lead to increased pressure on Indian mining utilities to ramp up output, prompting calls for re-evaluating the safety of those toiling deep in the bowels of the earth.

Alongside ship-breaking, mining has the distinction of being the most dangerous profession in India, as is the case in a number of developing economies such as China and Brazil. Industry insiders, including senior officers employed by the world’s largest coal miner, state-owned Coal India Ltd, concede that official numbers could be much lower than the actual deaths that take place deep inside the mines.

India produces 89 minerals by operating 569 coal mines, 67 oil and gas mines, 1,770 non-coal mines, and several more small mines, running into over a lakh, all of which translate into direct employment of about 1 million on a daily average basis and an overall sector

contribution of about 5 per cent to the country’s gross domestic product.

However, the fact that disasters strike at regular intervals in coal mines and some of the metalliferous mines — iron ore, soapstone and granite — is a pointer to the Indian mining industry’s abysmal safety record and the failure of its utilities to learn from the ‘standard operating procedures’ (SoPs) implemented in countries such as Australia, the US and even China.

Plus, the frequency of incidents has increased in the recent years, as flagged by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in its 2014 report titled ‘Views on Mine Safety in India’ and highlighted by the death of 15 miners in Meghalaya on July 6, 2012, after they were trapped in a collapsed mine at Nangalbibra in South Garo Hills for seven days.

When it comes to coal mining accidents, India has a higher proportion of deaths resulting from strata fall (or fall of the roof and sides of underground mines) than from the use of explosives, which account for the bulk of the accidents in countries such as China and the US.

Between 2009 and 2013, there have been 752 documented fatalities in mining operations in India, according to the DGMS. These include accidents at mines run by state-owned CIL, Neyveli Lignite Corporation and Singareni Collieries.

One of the reasons why the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act was enacted in 1973, taking over private sector mines, was their poor safety records. Yet, work at public sector mines remains highly dangerous.

Lack of investment in coal mines is cited as one of the main reasons for the high casualties. Accidents during surface transport by heavy machinery in open-cast mines, apart from the


use of explosives, are the other key reasons. Though employees of state-owned coal firms are governed by the same set of rules as, say, those of Air India, payout rates in case of accidents are low. The compensation for injuries or death rarely crosses Rs 10 lakh.

In its July 2014 report, the NHRC mentioned the need for the mining sector to gain exposure to best practices from across the world, including using scientific ‘training need assessment’ for officers and workers, developing effective training delivery mechanisms and working on comprehensive specialised training on accident investigation”.

The inherent dangers ensure that deaths in mines are not just a phenomenon in India but can occur in even the safest of working

environments. In 2010, explosions in the Pike River Mine in New Zealand and the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, the US, killed a total of 29 men.

In India, though, the problems stem from issues such as the causes of accidents and the contravention of statutory provisions during inspections repeating themselves. Moreover, miners are exposed to a number of hazards that adversely affect their health, including dust, noise, heat and humidity. The problem of inadequate compensation is another debilitating factor, as documented in the report dated April 17, 2013, by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on safety in coal mines.q

(Source : http://indianexpress.com/)

Adversity and loss makes a man wise.

- Welsh Proverb


The 56thCentral Geological Programming Board (CGPB) Meeting of the Ministry of Mines (MoM) was held on 9th and 10th February 2017 at A. P. Shinde Symposium Hall, Indian Council for Agricultural Research, NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi.Inaugural Session (10.00 – 11.30) started with the welcome for dignitaries to the dais followed by Invocation and Lighting of lamp. Shri Satyabrata Guha, Dy. Director General, PSS – P & M, G.S.I. welcomed the dignitaries, Members of the Board, which included representatives from the few different Ministries (MoM, MoC, MnES, Defence etc.) I.B.M., State Govt. Directorates of Mines & Geology, PSU’s (Coal India, CMPDI, NMDC, MECL, SAIL etc.), private entrepreneurs, FICCI, FIMI, I.S.M. – IIT, Geological Society of India, MGMI and few others. A large number of senior officers from different Missions of G.S.I, were also present. Shri Akhilesh Choudhury, Council Member, MGMI attended the meeting representing the President, MGMI, who is a member of the board. Welcome address was followed by nearly half an hour long presentation by Shri M. Raju, Director General, G.S.I and Member Secretary, CGPB. Shri Raju presented a brief overview of CGPB followed by reporting of work being carried out by GSI (Mission wise) during field Season of 2016-17 (April’ 16 upto Jan’ 2017) and placing of proposals of GSI pertaining to Field Season 2017-18 (April’ 17 – March 2018) which includes a total of 816 items of all the 5 Mission of GSI. It is worth to mention that so long GSI’s expenditure was controlled under Plan and Non-Plan heads. The Field Season 2017 -18 will be the first programme to be taken up under the guidance of NITI Aayog along with several changes in the formulation of Budget proposals. During Financial Year 2017-18 the

total grant of GSI is Rs. 1,027.87 crores of which Establishment and Central Sector Scheme budgets are Rs. 598.87 crores and Rs. 429.00 crores respectively.Shri Balvinder Kumar, Secretary, MoM, GOI & Chairman CGPB released a number of GSI publications of which the most significant one is COALFIELD OF NORTH EASTERN INDIA (2nd Revised Edition) as Bulletin Sr. ’A’ No. 45 and few other publications titled ‘Glimpses of Activities of GSI’ in some states like Maharashtra, Punjab etc. In this context it may be mentioned that MGMI since 54th CGPB meeting was putting Agenda items for early release of certain GSI publications of which coalfields of north eastern India was one. Release of publications was followed by a brief address by Shri Kumar, Chairman of CGPB. Some of the important points which Shri Kumar emphasized were to upgrade modernization of GSI activities to achieve excellence at par with developed countries and the most alarming thinking of MoM for down-sizing of man power strength and again a move for re-structuring of GSI. However, he did not forget to mention that it is due to GSI’s past and present work, many mineral blocks could be identified for development through auction. Inaugural session concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Shri Koshy John, Dy. DG, DGCO, New Delhi, GSI.In the pre-lunch Plenary Session – I, Shri M. Raju, DG, GSI placed the Minutes of the 55th CGPB Meeting held in February 2016 for confirmation. Followed by Review of Follow–up Action on the Minutes of the 55th CGPB meeting. Quite elaborate discussion took place item-wise on the Minutes of the actions by GSI and others. The MGMI member brought to notice the actions of GSI on certain issues raised during the previous year’s CGPB meeting of 2016.

Special Meeting

56th Central GeoloGiCal ProGramminG Board (CGPB) meetinG


In the post lunch session on 9th Feb’17 presentation in two Plenary Sessions II & III issues were discussed on activities of GSI Mission – I (Baseline geoscience data generation) and Mission – III (Geo-informatics). A total of 29 Agenda items (6 by MGMI) for discussion were incorporated in the volume of AGENDA NOTES. These agenda were classified according to the Issues and grouped under the 5 Mission activities of GSI Under Mission – I, three presentations were made by Shri K. Duraiswamy, ADG, GSI (on proposals of Mission 1A for F.S. 2017-18), Dr. D. Gupta, ADG, GSI (on activities of Area and ground geophysical studies) and Shri V. Devdas, Dy. DG, GSI (on activities of Marine Mineral investigations). There were only four agendas on Mission – I, of which two are from MGMI, viz on issues (i) Aero-geo-physical survey of the country and (ii) Generation of Base-line Geoscience data. MGMI member reacted on the comments of GSI. In respect of Mission – III (geo-informatics) activities of GSI a brief overview on OCBIS (Online Core Business Information System) with projections was presented by Shri A. Saha, Director, GSI followed by a presentation on Bhukosh, OCBIS by M/s. Accenture. Only one agenda item under Mission – III was there for discussion and that is from MGMI on issues related to GSI Publication. It is worth to mention that in view of MGMI’s repeated thrust, publication on North Eastern States Coalfields has been released in this CGPB and Jharia Coalfield will be taken up in F.S. 2017-18. The other publication – A Manual of Geology of India, Vol – I (Part –II & Part – III) are expected to be published during F.S.2017-18.On 10th February’2017, CGPB Meeting started as Plenary Session – IV (9.30 A.M.) with the presentation on activities of Mission – II, which deals with the most important activity of GSI, i.e. National Mineral Resource Assessment. Shri S.N. Meshram, ADG and Mission head (Mission – II) presented highlight on proposals of Mission – II activities for F.S. 2017-18 followed by a brief

presentation by Shri D. Mohan Raj, Dy. D.G (Mission – II) on progress made in the special project initiated by GSI during F.S. 2016-17 as ‘Project - UNCOVER (India)’. This project aims at deep probing for mineral resources. Presentations were followed by discussion on Agenda items on issues proposed by Members pertaining to Mission – II activities. A total of 12 agenda items were there of which one was from MGMI on ‘Issues related to exploration of solid Fossil Fuel domain of the Country’. Comments on the issue by GSI was not fully acceptable to MGMI representative and thus after a discussion it has been agreed by GSI, that the two areas (one in Maharashtra and another in Jharkhand – Bihar) will be re-looked and MGMI’s co-operation if required may be sought.After a brief tea-break, Plenary Session – V started with the presentations on activities of Mission – IV of GSI, which deals with Geotechnical and Fundamental Geosciences. Shri T.S. Pangtey, ADG & Mission head gave in nutshell about the Mission’s activities and about some special studies. Dr. Joy Gopal Ghosh, Director, GSI gave brief presentation on the ‘State – of – the art laboratory facilities available in GSI. Dr. P. R. Gelani, Dy. DG of GSI’s Training Institute presented proposals of GSI’s Mission – V (Training and Capacity building) activities of GSI for F.S. 2017-18. A total of 96 training programmes for both scientific and non-scientific personnel’s have been outlined in proposal. Both for Mission – IV & V, a total of 7 agenda items were there (2 from MGMI), but time constraints did not permit elaborate discussion on the agenda issues.Concluding Session included brief remarks by Shri M. Raju, DG, GSI, Shri B. Kumar, Secretary, MoM and Dr. N. K . Singh, Jt. Secretary, MoM. The 56th CGPB meeting concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Shri S. Guha, Dy. DG, PSS – P & M, GSI.q

Reporting by akhilesh Choudhury


Investment News :

Miners to Spend $21bn on Exploration By 2025 : For key projects of Africa

After five years of painful belt-tightening as the price of gold fell, the industry’s biggest companies have started to loosen their purse strings to build mines and find new deposits to replenish falling production and reserves. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, an undeniable and ongoing rebound in commodity prices could take global mining spending in exploration up to as much as US$21bn by 2025, a level of funding last seen in 2012 but which is necessary to sustain the industry’s growth. [Mining.com] Leading the way this week is Vedanta Resources with chairman Anil Agrawal outlining his 50-year vision for mining in the Copperbelt and announcing plans to invest US$1bn in Konkola Copper Mines. [Mining Review] Others like Metal Tiger, [MiningCapital] Tlou Energy [Mining Weekly] and Premier African Minerals [Mining Weekly] have opted for share placements to raise funds for key projects in Africa. Next in line are OreCorp, which plans to raise A$20.6m to fast-track development of its Nyanzaga gold project in Tanzania [Mining Weekly] and Cougar Metals NL, hoping to raise US$1.15m to accelerate graphite and lithium projects in Africa and elsewhere. [Mining Capital]

Illegal Mining :Illegal Mining Costs Ghana $2.3bn

Ghana Local content, taxes and illegal mining topped the headlines in roundup of news across the African continent this week. In

Zambia, government plans to conduct a month-long review of foreign labour quotas in the Zambian mining sector [Mining Review] and, in Tanzania, a special audit of mining companies has been ordered to determine if they pay their fair share of taxes to the East African country. [Mining Weekly] Noteworthy that Ghana has lost US$2.3bn to illegal gold mining in 2016, according to Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu [Pulse]. Meanwhile South Africa, in a bid to combat illegal mining, plans to ‘amend and relax’ some of its conditions in issuing mining permits to small-scale miners, according to Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant. [Mining Weekly]

Mergers & Acquisitions :

Politics Could Delay Anglo Restructuring

Mike TekeIn South Africa, Masimong Minerals, led by Chamber of Mines President Mike Teke, has emerged as the favourite to win an auction for some of Anglo American’s South African coal mines, according to two people familiar with the matter. [Mining Weekly] However, political instability in South Africa would be “slightly negative” for Anglo American as the restructuring of its local assets might be delayed, but gold miners would benefit most, at least in the short term, according to Goldman Sachs. [Mining Mx] Elsewhere in Africa, IronRidge reports that it has executed a joint venture agreement with ‘Major Star SARL’ over licenses in the Ivory Coast [ProActive] and Vale completes the sale of its interest in the Mozambique-based Moatize coal project to

Special Report

2017 Mining indaba HigHligHts on african Mines(An extract of A Report on Annual Investing in African Mining Indaba : March 31)


Japanese miner Mitsui & Co, receiving an initial payment of US$733m. [Mining Weekly]

Mining Charter :

South Africa Awaits Mining Charter

The mining sector in South Africa is waiting to see if the government will move on major amendments to the country’s mining code - which are reportedly due this week. A major industry objection to the new charter is that the local mining sector would face additional levies and taxes of ZAR2bn to ZAR3bn a year whilst ZAR2bn already contributed by it for human resource development will be diverted into a new tax collection entity. [Mining Mx] Noteworthy, if the proposed Mining Charter is promulgated, it will dent South Africa’s score on global research firm BMI Research’s Sub-Saharan Africa Mining Risk Reward Indices, as it could deter investment. [Mining Weekly]

Investment :

Which executive contributions had the strongest impact on their company’s reputations?

The most visible executive speaker at Mining Indaba was Anglo American’s Mark Cutifani, whose address to the conference had three key themes : Innovation, sustainability, and resilience. Across all forms of media, 21% of content to mention Mr Cutifani referenced Anglo American’s 40% increase in productivity since 2013, and his desire to replicate these figures between now and 2020. Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye was the second most visible CEO at Indaba, placing higher than Rio Tinto’s Bold Baatar, Randgold’s Mark Bristow and South 32’s COO Mike Fraser.q [Alva-Group]

Hope is a waking dream

- Aristotle


100 YEARS AGO

This paper was originally written as a report for the Government of Bengal who have kindly permitted it to be read as a paper before the Institute. We wish to express our thanks and those of our members to that Government, for kindly allowing the Institute this privilege.

As is well known to the members of this Institute there are three recognized methods of imparting mining instruction: firstly, at schools of mines which are attached to universities or colleges; secondly, at self-contained schools of mines; and, thirdly, at evening classes where instruction is given to persons working daily underground in mines; and amongst these evening classes should be included one-day-a-week or other special classes at the first two institutions.

In concluding our enquiry we visited the following :

Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham Universities; a school of mines at Wigan, attached to an Engineering College; the Country School of Mines at Nuneaton, Warwickshire, and a school of mines recently opened by the South Wales coal owners at Treforest, Glamorganshire. We made some short enquiries, also, at Cardiff University, and enquired into the systems of evening classes organized by the Country Councils of Northumberland, Yorkshire and Glamorganshire. All these schools and classes are maintained in the neighbourhood of working coal-fields.

B – At Evening Classes.

Their scope and aim and courses of instruction given.

Generally speaking, the evening classes aim at turning out good subordinate officials and under-managers, who work daily in the mines. The courses of instruction vary considerably, from teaching at various centres at night students who have been at work in the mines all day, leading up in places to one-day-a-week classes at schools attached to Universities and other schools. The general rules is for students to attend these classes and to carry on their work in the mines during the same period.

While we found that students at the various schools of mines were comparatively few in number, we found that students were attending these evening classes by hundreds considered in the aggregate over the United Kingdom.

As we have explained in another part of this report, it is possible that in future the instruction given at evening classes or one-day-a-week classes will not be sufficient to enable a student to get his first-class certificate. The various courses of instruction at the centres at which we enquired – and they may be taken as typical – are given in the appendices. Generally speaking, the evening classes, as opposed to one-day-a-week or special classes at school of mines, are managed by the various Country

From the Archive

Report on Mining Education in England with special reference to India (An extract)

By G. F. Adams, E. H. Roberton and Glen George


Councils, while such one-day-a-week or special classes are arranged for by the heads of the various universities and schools of mines concerned.

The teaching of the evening classes is done either by local men, such as colliery managers, or school teachers, or by special travelling teachers, employed and sent out by the Country Council.

As a rule, the elementary classes are taught by the former, while advanced classes are taught by the travelling teachers, who do nothing but their teaching work.

In this connection we would quote Mr. Henry Davies, the Director of Mining Instruction for the Glamorgan Country Council, as to the relative value of teaching by local teachers, who have other occupations, and of teaching by special full-time travelling teachers. He was emphatically in favour of the latter class, and pointed out that there was a “practice” in teaching as well as a “practice” in mining, and that it was just as important to have mining taught by a practical teacher who knew how to teach, as it was to

have mine managed by a manager. Fees for these classes are nominal, usually as low as £2 per subject per year, or £4 for all subjects per year. In some cases scholarships, tenable at the nearest school of mines, are offered to students of evening classes.

The Glamorganshire Country go so far as to pay the train fares of advanced students, who reside more than 2 miles from the evening classes which they wish to attend.

Mr. Davies has since informed us that the above authority is now erecting seven fully-equipped laboratories in different convenient centres, in order to have all principles taught illustrated by demonstration or experiments.

Evening classes in mining are now very numerous in Great Britain, are well attended, and while they do not give, or aim at giving, as high a standard of education as that given at schools of mines, they have performed and are performing amongst others the very useful function of raising the standard of technical education among the rank and file of the industry. q (Contd. to next issue)


Prof. Tadimety Chakrapani (TC) Rao (2776 - LM), a PhD in Mineral Engineering from University of Queensland (UQ), Australia (1965), was recognised as the UQ International alumnus of the year in its Annual Courting the Greats Ceremony recognising significant achievements by graduates on October 19th. Prof. Rao is the only Indian so far to receive such an award.

Prof. Rao, born in September,1940, received his B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Geology from Andhra University, Waltair in 1959, and M.Sc. in Ore Dressing from the same university in 1960. He was a Faculty member of IIT, Kanpur for eight years and then took up the assignment of Professor & Head of Mineral Engineering department of Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad.

He established a new four-year graduate programme (B.Tech) in Mineral Engineering, the only of its kind in India. He was also Dean of Academic & Research at Indian School of Mines. In the year 1989, Prof. Rao took over as Director of RRL, Bhopal the only CSIR laboratory in the then state of Madhya Pradesh. Under his leadership the RRL laboratory emerged as one

of the “best performing” CSIR laboratories. Prof. Rao superannuated in the year 2000.

Prof. Rao was awarded prestigious National Mineral award, National Metallurgists award (both of Government of India) and Lajja Shankar Jha award for his outstanding contribution in Engineering & Technology in the State of Madhya Pradesh. In the year 2013. Prof. Rao received the Coal Preparation Innovation Award from the Coal Preparation Society (CPCSI) of India. Prof Rao’s pioneering works on “modelling of unit operations in coal and mineral processing” are still being extensively used by the academic institutions and industries all over the world for process simulation and optimisation.

Prof. Rao is a Fellow member of National Academy of Engineering and was Chairman, Institution of Engineers of M.P. State Centre. Since his superannuation, Prof. Rao has been acting as consultant to many mineral/coal processing industries. His “innovative approaches” have led to significant “economic benefits” to coal and mineral industry in the country. q

Special Report

AChievemenT of ouR membeR


Dr Narayan Das Mitra

Dr Narayan Das Mitra (MMGI, LM-1849) left this material world on the night of 2nd February 2017 at his Kolkata residence. With heartfelt grief the MGMI members wishes his soul to rest in peace in his heavenly abode. May God give strength to his surviving family members and friends to bear the loss.

Dr Mitra, a member of MGMI family since 1964-65, served MGMI as Hony Editor during 1992-94. He was the founder member of MGMI Calcutta Branch as its first Joint Secretary.

Dr ND Mitra, Former Senior Deputy Director General, Geological Survey of India, born on 22nd August 1936, had a brilliant academic career. He graduated from Presidency College, Calcutta with 1st class honours in Geology in 1956, post-graduated from same college under University of Calcutta in 1958, and was awarded Ph.D. degree in 1970, C.U. for fundamental work on Talchir sedimentation in Damodar

Condolences

MeMbers that we lost

Valley. This work was published as a memoir (No. 105, 1975) by GSI.

A substantial part of his service career was spent in Coal Exploration where he worked in major and important coalfields like, Rajmahal, West Bokaro, coalfields of Northeast India. Signature of his scientific brilliance has been imprinted over the years in the exploration strategy of coal and lignite.

In addition to his work on coal and Gondwana geology, he made significant contribution to the Precambrian and Tertiary geology of India. His work in the ophiolite belt of Northeastern India was published with joint authorship as a memoir (No. 119, 1986) by GSI.

He was recipient of a number of awards and honours. In 1970, he received Coggin Brown Gold Medal of MGMI, in 1975 he received National Mineral Award. As GSI delegate, he visited Australia, Thailand, USSR, Brazil and Japan. He was the Convener of IXth International Gondwana Symposium held at Hyderabad in 1994.

After retirement in 1994, Dr Mitra worked on Coal Bed Methane prospects in India. He is pioneer in this study and prepared dockets on CBM potentialities of Indian coalfields helping Directorate General of Hydrocarbons for bidding of the CBM Blocks.q

Dilip Kumar barman

Dilip Kumar barman (LM-8995, 2005-06), born on 1st January. 1936, left for his heavenly abode on February 24, 2017. Late Barman was an alumnus of Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad and belonged to 1957 batch of M.Sc. (Applied Geology) ISM, Dhanbad. He served TISCO Group of Mines Division, Joda as agent and retired as Project Manager, Bharat Refractory Ltd. Members of MGMI express their deep sense of sorrow and anguish for the sudden and sad demise of the beloved member.

May his soul rest in peace in heaven.


Announcement

ATTENTION TO MEMBERS

gMI Council has decided to organize the 7th Asian

Mining Congress and Exhibition, during November 8th

to 11th 2017. The Technical Session of the Congress will

be held at the hotel the Westin Kolkata Rajarhat. The

Exhibition, IME 2017 will be held in ECO Park, New Town,

Rajarhat, Kolkata. Please plan to participate in the 7th

Asian Mining Congress and Exhibition accordingly and

may also inform your colleagues.

We look forward to your active participation and

wholehearted support to organize this mega event in

befitting manner so that participants can enhance their

knowledge to meet the challenges ahead.

M

Shri Prasanta Roy, Honorary Secretary, MGMI, welcoming the distinguished participants and members in the 15th Foundation Day Lecture

Prof (Dr) VP Dimri, FNA, FNASc Dr Homi Bhaba Chair Professor, delivering

the 15th Foundation Day Lecture

Dr NK Nanda, President, MGMI, giving the background of Foundation Day Lecture

Dr NK Nanda, President, MGMI, welcoming the Speaker of 15th Foundation Day Lecture

Prof (Dr) VP Dimri, FNA, FNASc, Dr Homi Bhaba Chair Professor with a bouquet

A view of the distinguished participants and members in the 15th Foundation Day Lecture

Council Meeting at Headquaters, Saltlake, Kolkata

Glimpses of MGMI EventsMGMIGlimpses of Events

Published by : Honorary Secretary, The Mining, Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India GN-38/4, Sector V, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 091 Phone : (033) 2357 3482 / 3987, Telefax : 2357 3482 E-mail : [email protected], [email protected], Web : www.mgmiindia.inDesign & Print : Graphique International, Kolkata - 700 015, Phone : (033) 2251 1407Price : Free to Members; ` 100.00 or US$ 5.00 per copy to others

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