Evolved policies, use of technology, emergence of new business models, adoption of environment-friendly practices and initiatives to involve local communities are transforming the Indian mining sector
Bob Dylan was right, especially in the case of the Indian mining sector. If the miners think that their companies are worth saving, then they “better start swimmin’, or you’ll sink like a stone. For the times they are a-changin’”. The modern-day image of miners is completely different from that in public imagination. They are no longer merely the killers of their workers, exploiters of the local communities, and looters of public wealth. Instead, their operations are safe, sustainable, responsible, and technologically advanced.
For survival, forget about being profitable, the mining industry has looked forward, dragged the future to the present. All the stakeholders, including the policy-makers and civil society, have explored new solutions. Fortunately, some aspects of the future are already here. Business models have transformed, government policies have incentivised responsible investments and technology is enabling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robots. And the safety, health, and livelihoods of the workers and communities are better protected now.
Indian mining is at a cusp. The country has large mineral reserves with a huge potential in production. It is one of the leading global producers in coal, iron ore, copper, and bauxite, and produces 95 minerals. It has the costs and location advantages. IBEF, an information database, feels that India’s “strategic location enables convenient exports to the developed as well as the fast-growing Asian markets”. The scope is there. What is needed is a change in mindset. The country’s mining is in the midst of a radical transformation.
この記事は Outlook の Outlook Mining Special Issue 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Outlook の Outlook Mining Special Issue 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
My Secular Mentor
A rare psychologist of Indian culture, Sudhir Kakar leaves behind seminal works that will have relevance for many generations
Battle of the Bahubalis
Gangsters in Bihar no longer enjoy the kind of dominance that they did in the 90s, but that has not kept them away from politics
Memories of Riots
Have frequent communal tensions changed the social fabric of Bihar?
Didi's Achilles Heel
Mamata Banerjee stays the course but her party, plagued by corruption charges, spins out of control
Memory Metamorphosis
What happened on March 14, 2007 in Nandigram? People still ask this question as they take part in the dance of democracy
Minority Report
He has not lost the Dhubri seat in Assam since 2009. Now he is fighting for political survival as Bengali Muslims look to favour the Congress
THE POWER OF PURPOSE
Doing good is good business as it transcends bottom lines and impacts lives positively, yielding profits that go beyond numbers.
CURRENT FARMING METHODS ARE EXACERBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) project is supporting transition of 850,000 farmers covering 377,801 hectares of land and operating in 3730 villages. \"Natural farming is in harmony with nature. It is a holistic land management practice that leverages the power of photosynthesis in plants\", says Mr. T Vijay Kumar, a retired IAS officer, who is the Executive Vice Chairman of Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, a non-profit organization set up by the Andhra Pradesh government in 2014. Since 2016, this platform has been utilized to integrate and promote APCNF activities, aimed at fostering the overall development and empowerment of farmers. Excerpts from an interview with Mr T Vijay Kumar:
IN PURSUIT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Harshavardhana Gourineni, Executive Director, Amara Raja Energy & Mobility Ltd, in an interview shares how through its products and operations the company is helping reduce carbon footprints and meet SDGs. Excerpts:
COOLING NO MORE A LUXURY, BUT A NECESSITY
With the rise in demand of air conditioners due to heat stress, sustainable air conditioning is the way forward to bring relief to people as well as manage emissions