New Delhi: A special meeting of the Standing Scientific Research Committee (SSRC) was convened on August 21, 2024, under the leadership of Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary of the Ministry of Coal. Held in hybrid mode, the meeting brought together senior ministry officials, including Additional Secretaries Rupinder Brar and Vismita Tej, JS&FA Nirupama Kotru, and Advisor (Projects) Shri Anandji Prasad, alongside representatives from academic institutions, research organizations, and leading mining companies. The agenda was centered on driving forward Research and Development (R&D) initiatives within the coal sector, with a focus on enhancing exploration techniques, boosting coal production, improving safety measures, and safeguarding the environment.
The SSRC consists of members from several key ministries and departments, such as the Department of Science and Technology (DST), NITI Aayog, and the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS). Industry representatives from Coal India Limited (CIL), NLC India Limited (NLCIL), Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), and Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) were also present. Academic and research institutions, including IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, IIT Kanpur, the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), and the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), contributed valuable insights.
During the meeting, CMPDI delivered an in-depth presentation on R&D efforts within the coal sector, addressing key challenges, measures taken, and future plans. Special emphasis was placed on the “National Centre for Coal and Energy Research (NaCCER),” which is currently being established at CMPDI, Ranchi. Phase-1 of this initiative aims to bolster research across various coal and energy domains. The presentation also showcased numerous high-impact projects—both completed and ongoing—under the R&D/S&T scheme of CIL and the Ministry of Coal.
As the coal sector continues to face increasing demands for efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability, the SSRC meeting underscored the need for continued collaboration between government, academia, and industry.