Two-day international conference on GCPF from April 17

MANGALURU: Department of Mining Engineering, NITK, Surathkal is organizing a two-day international conference on global challenges, policy framework and sustainable development for mining of mineral and fossil energy resources (GCPF): 2015 from April 17 at NITK. About 200 delegates from India and abroad will participate in the conference that will see experts in coal, oil, gas, mineral sectors, environment and sustainable development deliver 15 keynote lectures.M Govinda Raj, chairman, GCPF said deliberations of the conference are expected to bring some policy recommendations for the energy sector in general and coal sector in particular. India’s energy base in primarily composed of domestically produced coal and imports comprising of crude oil and coking coal. In the immediate five years’ time frame from now, India urgently requires new policy frameworks to provide the country with quality and reliable energy resources. Demands for energy from non-renewable fossil fuels will further intensify with increasing population and the quest for improving quality of life on a variety of parameters. The country urgently requires very comprehensive and coordinate approach from various stake holders in order to satisfy the energy demand and address the environmental concerns and quickly migrate to an era of transparency and sustainability for all those involved, Govinda Raj said. Surya P Sethi, core climate negotiator, Government of India will inaugurate the conference. Malay Chatterjee, CMD, KIOCL, Diwakar Acharya, CMD, UCIL, B Surendra Mohan, CMD, NLC Ltd, and D N Prasad, advisor, projects, ministry of coal will be the guests. Tushar Giri Nath, secretary, Government of Karnataka will be the chief guest at the valedictory. N K Nanda, director, NMDC Ltd, A K Monnapa, MD, Hutti Gold Mines Co. Ltd and others will be guests of honour.