From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 16: Indian Iron Ore industry players and officials from union mining ministry will gather in Goa for two day long conference on the backdrop of crisis hovering on Goan Iron Ore mining industry.

‘International Iron Ore and Steel Making Raw Materials Conference’, will be held on November 17-18 in Panaji where representatives from countries like China, Australia and Indonesia are also expected to participate.

The initiative of Ore Team, leading global research house, the conference will hold crucial discussion to chalk out strategies to rescue the beleagured mining industry and save the mines from further woes.

“Senior officials from the Steel Ministry, including Joint Secretary U P Singh and Joint Executive Secretary of JPC (Joint Plant Committee) G K Basak, and top brass from Goa, Karnataka and Andhra will join the captains of the industry for brainstorming sessions in the backdrop of worsening situation in the sector,” the organizers said today.

Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Economic and Commercial Trade Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in India Peng Gang, H Srinivas, Director General of Mines, Karnataka, Arvind K Loliyekar, Director of Mines, Goa and senior officials from companies like Sesa Goa, Essel Mining, MMTC, SAIL, JSW, China-based Umetal and Concord Fortune are expected to be among the attendees.

Speaking about the conference, Dr A S Firoz, Chief Economist, ERU, Min of Steel, says, "Both steel and iron ore industry are passing through a challenging time. This conference, I'm sure, will provide a direction to understand the complexity of issues involved."

“The Goa mining is going through an unprecedented crisis in the backdrop of Justice M B Shah Commission that is expected to submit its report soon. Conflicting reports have confounded the situation, especially about the possibility of a ban on iron ore export from Goa.

This conference will provide an opportunity for the local industry to take up their issues with the Centre while Union Ministries concerned will garner valuable inputs from the industry for corrective measures,’’ said Mr A K Verma, Director OreTeam India.

“Goa accounts for more than half of India's annual iron ore exports of 100 mt - worth Rs 28,300 crore. Any ban on exports can be fatal for the local industry,” he said, adding: “The sessions at the conference will highlight all these problems ranging from illegal mining to exports and discuss the ways out.”

Goa exported 54 million metric tonnes of iron ore last fiscal, basically to cater to the growing demand of China's steel industry.