On Wednesday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between state-owned Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad.

According to an official statement, “The first technical collaboration with IIT (ISM), Dhanbad, is a momentous occasion for HCL, the only copper miner in India, owning all the operating mining leases of copper ore in the nation."  Presently, majority of ore production comes through underground mode only and the level of ore production is around four million tons per annum.

"Due to the complex geological characteristics of the ore body and the increased depth of mining, various geotechnical and ground water related issues along with technical/ operational problems are being faced during the process of production along with maintaining safety standards and dealing the emerging sustainability issues," the statement added.

"IIT-ISM, Dhanbad, being an Institute of national reputation, particularly in mining minerals and its beneficiation and Earth Sciences, will play a key role in solving the emerging geological, technical, environmental, and, sustainable and ore beneficiation issues for achieving the envisaged expansion programme of HCL," it added.

The MoU was inked in Kolkata in the presence of Arun Kumar Shukla, CMD, HCL and Professor Rajiv Shekhar, Director, IIT (ISM), Dhanbad.

Image courtesy: Hindustan Copper Limited