A high level government and business joint delegation on mines sector visited Mongolia and China recently to strengthen mining ties with the respective countries. The delegation was led by the Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Santha Sheela Nair.
During their visit to Mongolia, the delegation called on the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Batbold S and briefed him about the proceedings of the first JWG meeting and identification of specific issues. The Mongolian Prime Minister said that the Indian side should aim at mineral-based value addition projects and associated infrastructure development.
In the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Mines, Minerals and Geology sector, Nair conveyed to the Mongolian side that an Inter-Ministerial Sub-Group comprising of GSI, IBM, NALCO, HCL, SAIL, CIL, RITES, NTPC and MECL headed by joint Secretary, Ministry of Mines Sundeep Nayak will address specific issues arising out of the meeting. It was also decided that the second meeting of the JWG would be hold in New Delhi by October this year.
It was also discussed in the JWG that five different forms of cooperation could be pursued for achieving mutually beneficial results. First, technical cooperation between the Geological Survey of India and its Mongolian counterpart in the areas of training, satellite based mapping, targeted surveys and studies; second, technical cooperation between the Indian Bureau of Mines and its Mongolian counterpart in the areas of mineral processing, laboratory scale studies and training, information sharing and computerized ore body modeling; third, formation of Government of India backed consortium of Indian companies from public and/or private sector for seeking mining and mineral concessions from Mongolian authorities for exploration and/or development; fourth, possible formation of joint venture companies among Government of India backed companies and development of mineral and mining assets including uranium and coking coal and ; fifth, conduct studies on infrastructure issues associated with development of mineral resources.
The Mongolian Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, D Zorigt wanted participation of Indian companies in different sectors. The Indian side mentioned that Indian consortia would be interested in these sectors.
During their visit to China, the Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Nair held a meeting with counterpart in China Geological Survey in the Ministry of Land and Resources. Both the sides emphasized the special significance of sixty years of diplomatic relations and agreed on the following points in the meeting and reviewed, (i) the MoU of 2005 between Ministries of both sides so that renewed or an expanded MoU could be signed afresh before or during the China Mining Conference 2010 at Tianjin to be held during 16-18 November 2010, (ii) include the MoU of 2008 between the Geological Surveys of both sides in the reviewed/expanded MoU between Ministries, and (iii) consider new work plans under the MoUs.
The Indian delegation met the office bearers of China Mining Association (CMA). The Association expressed their desire to have long term relationship with Indian side. Nair said that India would facilitate the B2B interaction between China and India on Geology and Mines sector.
The China Non- Ferrous Metal Mining Group Co. (CNMC) wanted to have cooperation with NALCO on brown-field and green-field projects. Similarly China Minmetals Group and MCC group wanted cooperation with Indian companies.
