MineTECH’07, India’s national seminar on Mining Technology – Past and Future, was held September 21-22 at Hotel Swosti Plaza, Bhubaneswar (in the eastof the state of Orissa). The two day seminar deliberated on 40 technical papers. The main them of the seminar was presented through Key Note Addresses by G.S.Khuntia, Editor-in-Chief of The IME Journal on the Indian iron ore and steel scenario. He presented the various new mining ventures in the iron ore sector in India with FDI from POSCO, MITTAL and other big players. The former Director General of Mines Safety of India, S.N.Padhi, dealt with technological advances vis-a-vis safety measures. Prof S.P.Mathur a leading underground coal mining expert wanted the Indian coal sector to lay emphasis on opening new coal mines to meet the growing demand of coal. Prof B.P.Khare dealt with developments made in opencast mining in India. He laid stress on continuous surface miners and also highwall mining technology application for difficult coal mining applications. Former Director of Central Mining Research Institute laid stress on the environmental issues of the Indian mining sector. Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh Mineral development Corp dealt with waste management and laid emphasis on using waste generated in mining for better use through technological innovations and ipgradation of mineral engineering facilities.
 
Technical papers authored by experts from coal, non-coal, research organisations, educational institutions and manufacturers were discussed in five technical sessions.   In the inaugural function five young achievers were congratulated. They include M.P.Dixit, Director(Technical) of South Eastern Coalfields for his outstanding contributions to underground coal mining, N.K.Khareda, Director of Mines Safety for his contributions to safety in mines administration, Avijit Ghosh Senior General Manager of Jindal Steel for his involvement in non-coal mining, Saurabh R. Sahay of Deepak fertilisers (the only and leading manufacturer of prilled grade Ammonium Nitrate in India) for his skills in marketing, and Dr Nabiullah of Central Institute of Mining & Fuel Research-Dhanbad for his long research association in explosive use and application areas.
 
Organised by India’s leading monthly Journal The Indian Mining & Engineering Journal, over 60 delegates from 20 leading organisations attended the program.