Indian School of Mines (ISM) is all set to play a key role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious plan to increase mineral production in the country by Rs 4 lakh crore in the next five years by helping to carry out relevant research in clean coal technology and other associated areas with nations like Australia.
A two-member team from the Australian High Commission in India, comprising deputy high commissioner Chris Elstoft and counsellor of industry and sciences Bruce Murphy, arrived at Dhanbad's premier mining cradle on Tuesday from New Delhi via Calcutta and took stock of facilities for various kinds of collaborations in mineral exploration, mines safety and mine planning between ISM and some Australian universities with whom it has already entered into pacts.
During their daylong visit, the team toured the institute's fuel and mineral engineering department besides holding deliberations with ISM director Durga Charan Panigrahi, registrar Colonel (Retd) M.K. Singh, faculty members and heads of department.
Later, the delegates visited the Dhanbad-based headquarters of mining regulator Directorate General of Mines Safety and returned to ISM in the evening to address students and teachers.
"India is seeking to increase mineral production by Rs 4 lakh crore in next five years, for which Australia has a lot to offer. Our country has the world's largest reserve of iron ore, is the second largest exporter of coal and has huge reserves of other minerals," Elstoft told mediapersons.
He went on to add that there were strong possibilities of co-operation between ISM and Australian institutes in university education, research, development and vocational training.
ISM lab in Dhanbad on Tuesday. Picture by Gautam Dey
"We will prepare proposals on the basis of our discussions to seek the funding for our joint activities. Both sides are eager to host lectures by experts on joint courses, joint research and exchange of students and faculties," the deputy high commissioner said.
Murphy, while highlighting the possible area of cooperation, added that there were endless possibilities of co-operation between the two countries in fields like hydrocarbon, beneficiation of minerals, mines safety, mine planning and rehabilitation.
At least five Australian universities and institutions - Curtin University, Monash University, University of Newcastle, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Queensland government's research testing and safety training centre Simtars - are collaborating with ISM in the field of clean coal technology through separate MoUs signed earlier this year as a follow-up of Modi's Down Under visit last year.
A clean coal energy technology research centre was established at the mining institute two months ago with help from Curtin University and it is working on industrial projects.
University of Queensland is also interested in signing an MoU with ISM, a deal that is expected to come about after the delegation's visit.
Speaking to The Telegraph ahead of the Australian delegation's visit, Nikkam Suresh, senior professor of ISM's fuel and mineral engineering department who is also the coordinator of the newly established Clean Coal Energy Technology Research Centre, said that the facility was working in areas of novel coal gasification and advanced coal beneficiation.
