After the formation of new government at Centre and subsequent appointment of Sri. Prahlad V. Joshi as Cabinet Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Ministries at Centre, the thrust of Modi Government on Research and Development can be well visualized as the Notification regarding the appointment of agencies to carry out the Research and Development works in the field of Mining & Exploration has been published.
The Modi Government’s new slogan "जय जवान जय किसान जय विज्ञान जय अनुसन्धान" has been authenticated even in the field of Mining and exploration by the efforts of Ministry of Mines.
As per the notification, the Ministry has sought the Projects from Academic Institutions, Universities, National Institutes and R&D Institutions on Research and Development on important areas of Mining, Exploration and allied Fields.
The THRUST AREAS for these Projects include
i) Prospecting and Exploration of Strategic Minerals and Rare Earth Elements (REE)
ii) Development of New Technology for mineral exploration and mining on land and deep sea to locate and exploit new mineral resources.
iii) Research on Advanced Mining Methods.
iv) Improve Efficiency in process, operations, recovery of by- products and reduction in specifications and consumption norms.
v) In order to utilize low grade and fine sized ores, the Research in metallurgy and Mineral Beneficiation Techniques.
vi) Value addition from mine waste, plant tailings etc.
vii) Recovery of new alloys and metal related products etc.
viii) Evolve low capital and energy saving processes.
ix) High purity material production.
x) Common and Combined Research among all Organizations in Mineral sector.
The Government has indicated that the additional weightage shall be given for support in following conditions:
A) Preference will be given if the proposer has collaborated with concerned Industry.
B) The proposal should carry higher Technological Readiness Level (TRL) ideally leading to Pilot Scale Plants.
C) The preference is for pre developed proof of concept.
D) Further preference will be given if the targeted mineral deposits have the available data of Geological Survey of India in public domain.
E) The laboratory collaboration with Government agencies will be given weightage.
F) The proposals must be in line with the existing mandate / policy of mining, exploration, minerals, value addition, waste and environmental management during the process of mining and metallurgy.
These Science & Technology ( S&T) Projects are funded only after the project valuation by Project Evaluation and Review Committee ( PERC) and approved by Standing Scientific Advisory Group (SSAG) constituted by Ministry of Mines.
The Institutions have been asked to submit the proposals by 17th of July and the possible date of award of the Projects is September 2019.
