Bhubaneswar: Policymakers, industry leaders and experts participated in a workshop on ‘Growth of Iron Ore Mining in Odisha with Emphasis on Environment-Friendly Logistics’, organised by the Society of Geoscientists and Allied Technologists (SGAT), in association with Tata Steel.
With focus on low-carbon iron ore transportation, senior executives and representatives from MoEF&CC, OMC, Tata Steel, Jindal Steel, JSW, MGM Minerals, AM/NS India, SNM Group, Hindalco Industries Limited, Rungta Sons Pvt. Ltd, Sarda Mines, KCP Iron Ltd and KCCL reaffirmed the importance of collaborative efforts towards building a sustainable and environmentally responsible mineral logistics ecosystem in Odisha.
Dr Bijay Ketan Patnaik, IFS (Retd), was the chief guest and Siddhanta Das, IFS (Retd) was the guest of honour.
SGAT president Alok Bihari Panigrahi presided over the inaugural session, while vice president-cum-convenor Ramanath Praharaj outlined objectives of the workshop.
Dr Patnaik emphasised the importance of balancing economic growth with ecological conservation while creating employment opportunities.
Siddhanta Das commended SGAT for organising a timely discussion on iron ore logistics and highlighted the need to optimise mining operations while advancing environmental sustainability and net-zero logistics.
During the technical session, Jindal Steel executive vice-president Pramod Kumar Patra, and JSW business head Prasanna Kumar Panda highlighted slurry pipelines and fast-transit rail systems as sustainable alternatives to road-based transportation of iron ore.
Tata Steel’s Kalmang and Gandhalpada projects chief Dipak Behera supported the phased implementation of the CSIR-NEERI Sustainable Ore Transport Model (SOTM) framework and proposed the development of a Mineral Green Corridor by 2040 through cluster-based logistics planning, evacuation capacity reviews and District Green Mineral Transport Master Plans.
Dr N D Rao, formerly with JSPL, shared insights on the advantages of slurry pipelines for iron ore evacuation.
A panel discussion featuring Behera, SNM Group chairman Pradipta Mohanty, Essar-Minmet chairman Sanjay Kumar Patnaik, former NALCO executive director Dr R. C. Mohanty, and former MoEF&CC advisor Dr V P Upadhyay concluded that the NEERI-based SOTM framework can be effectively implemented through active collaboration among industry stakeholders and state and Central government agencies. The session was moderated by SGAT joint secretary Dr Manoranjan Mohanty.