Indian mining sector’s quest to modernise technology grabs Australia’s attention

In a landmark move to strengthen Australia’s trade and commerce relations with India, a 20-member delegation representing Australian Mining Equipment Technologies and Solutions (METS) recently visited India to explore opportunities to offer their technologies and services for the country's mining sector. The visit was a part of the ongoing Australia Business Week in India 2017 (ABWI) organised by the Australian Trade & Investment Commission (Austrade).

The event also saw the Australian Government setting up the Australia India Centre of Excellence for Mining Training in the Indian School of Mines and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Dhanbad, in partnership with the two premiere institutes. The centre will train engineers, executives, and technicians on mining operations with a focus on enhancing efficiency, productivity and safety in Indian mining sector.

The delegation met with the senior officials from S&T Mining Company, Coal India, and other leading mining companies in India to get a grasp of the current mining sector scenario and emerging opportunities there.

“We see lots of interest from the Indian mining sector in modernising technology and improving productivity. The METS delegation explores opportunities in the mining sector... These mining equipment, technology and services are designed to ensure that mines are productive, achieve high environmental standards and contribute to sustainable economic development,” said Austrade Trade Commissioner Tim Martin.

According to Martin, the per capita output in Indian mining sector is still lower than the global average. “Our focus is on increasing Australian mining equipment technologies and solutions’ access in India. Around 40 Australian companies are working in the mining sector in India,” he said.

“As part of collaboration with Australia for technology in various fields like training, clean coal, safety, mining and productivity, we have placed 10 proposals before Coal India, out of which five — worth INR 60 crore — have already been cleared,” ISM professor V.M.S.R. Murthy updated.