Australian high commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu on Friday inaugurated the Centre of Excellence in Mining Technology, a collaborative initiative, during her daylong visit to IIT(ISM) in Dhanbad.
"Australian experts will share their knowledge and expertise on mining and clean coal technology with their Indian counterparts. Australia has done a lot of work in this sphere and our experts will help India develop good quality coal with least gas emissions," Sidhu said in the presence of first secretary (trade and economics) to Australian High Commission Hilary McGeachy.
The Dhanbad cradle and Curtin University in Perth, Australia, had together launched a clean coal technology centre more than a year ago.
The Australian guests, taking time off from the second and final day of the Global Investors' Summit in Ranchi, toured facilities on the IIT(ISM) campus, including the cradle's mine survey lab, mine ventilation and environment lab, rock mechanics and excavation labs, geological museum, seismological observatory, central research facility and sports activity centre.
The team also held a meeting with director of IIT(ISM) Durga Charan Panigrahi to learn the overall status of collaboration activities between IIT(ISM) and Australian universities and research organisations. Other issues such as joint PhD programme with Curtin University and review of progress of an ongoing project to set up a virtual reality simulator were discussed at the meeting.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Australia in September 2014, during which both governments agreed to conduct joint research in clean coal technology.
In a follow-up action, MoUs between then ISM and various Australian varsities and research outfits, including Curtin University, Monash University, Newcastle University, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), were inked.
In October last year, a joint PhD programmes with Curtin University were launched in mine safety, rock excavation, clean coal technology, coal beneficiation, carbonisation, gassification and engineering assets management, among others.
Divulging what more is on the anvil with Monash and Newcastle varsities and CSIRO, Sidhu said, "Since the mining scenario in some parts of India and Australia are similar, exchange programmes for students and teachers will soon be formalised."
She added that a coordinator would soon be appointed for taking forward the relationship between IIT(ISM) and Australian institutions and organisations.
