Government keen to attract more private firms into Mineral Exploration – Pralhad Joshi
Overall Coal Production
likely to Touch 900 Million Ton
Captive Coal Mine Production to Record 140 Million Ton This Fiscal
Union Minister
of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said that the Centre is
making sustained efforts to attract more private entrepreneurs into mineral
exploration. Mineral exploration will be carried out without adverse
environmental impact through enhanced use of drones and other latest
technologies, he said.
Addressing two-day International
Conference on “Indian Minerals & Metals Industry - Transition Towards 2030
& Vision 2047” organized by NMDC Ltd, Ministry of Steel, Ministry of Mines
and FICCI here today, Joshi said that through commercial coal mine
auctioning Rs.25000 crore additional revenue has been generated last year and
State of Odisha stood first in revenue generation. The Minister called upon
Geological Survey of India (GSI) to focus on new age minerals’ exploration.
Touching upon some of the recent reforms initiated in the mining sector, Joshi
said that coal production from captive mines is expected to touch 140 million
ton this year compared to 89 million ton last fiscal. Total coal production
during this financial year is likely to record 900 million ton, the minister
further stated.
In order to give further fillip to mineral exploration,
National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) has been made an autonomous body, the
minister added. Recalling his recent successful visit to Australia, Pralhad
Joshi said that compared to Australia our mineral exploration is restricted to
limited area. He said that as result of recent innovative initiatives and
amendments in Acts and rules, 190 major mineral blocks have been auctioned
during the last seven years. Pointing out that commercial coal mine auction is
a big success, the minister urged the PSUs to start production from allotted
coal blocks at the earliest or else the same may be a surrendered to the
ministry for re-auctioning.
Union Minister for Steel and
Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia also attended the Conference.