In a webinar organised here, speakers stressed on augmenting iron ore productions with use of latest technological knowhow to meet the target of 300 MT steel by 2030.
While the Society of Geoscientists and Allied Technologists (SGAT) president Prof ON Mohanty introduced the theme of the webinar, the session had three speakers namely Principal Secretary, Industries, Hemant Sharma as chief guest; Director General , GSI and Chairman- cum- Managing Director, MECL Dr Ranjit Rath as the guest of honour and Director, Mines, Debidutta Biswal as the keynote speaker.Dr Mohanty in his presidential address stressed that Odisha being a mineral rich State, the raw material supply specifically major minerals such as chromite, iron, manganese, bauxite and coal is vital for the mineral based industries.
The target of achieving 300 million tonnes of steel by the year 2030-2031 as per the National Steel Policy, 2017 is practicable by scaling up mineral exploration by adopting advanced technology and upgrading the low quality ores by suitable beneficiation.
Principal Secretary, Industries, Hemant Sharma as the chief guest of the inaugural Session, opined, "We must have long term raw material security with technological upgradation and technology infusion. The existing gap in transport and availability of raw material to the industries need to be abridged. A simplified legislations and compliance by the industries to the regulatory authority is the need of the hour."
Director General of Geological Survey of India and Managing Director of Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited Dr Rath in his address stated for the augmentation of mineral resources, that is being carried out by the GSI by National Geochemical and Geophysical Mapping of the Obvious Geological Potential area of the country. The exploration by the GSI is stressed on finding resources of lithium, antimony and tungsten in the country. GSI,MECL in coordination with the State Directorate of Mines/Geology have taken up priority areas for mineral investigation and prospecting.
The National Geosciences Repository by the GSI will include all data pertaining to exploration carried out in the country. The MECL has taken up prospecting in bauxite, graphite and iron ore in Odisha. Exploration by the GSI and the MECl has major contribution in auctioning of prospective blocks in Odisha and other States.
Director of Mines Debidutta Biswal in his keynote address stated that although the production of ore commodities has been affected during the first quarters of 2020-21 due to Covid pandemonium and also for the fact of changes in legislation, the Government of Odisha has taken a number of measures and would continue to facilitate the mining sector in all aspects for augmenting production of raw material.