Bhubaneswar: Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. (OMECL) – a wholly owned PSU of Govt of Odish – signed an agreement on 4th August 2022 with a consortium of MSA, South Africa & IDEPX (India) to optimise the exploration of mineral deposits resulting in inventory of auctionable blocks of different minerals in the state of Odisha.
The agreement signing programme was Chaired by D.K. Singh, Principal Secretary, Steel & Mines-cum-Chairman, OMECL in presence of Debidutta Biswal, Director Mines, Odisha, Balwant Singh, Managing Director, OMECL and delegates including Director of Geology, Odisha, officials from Geological Survey of India.
The exploration work program will ensure the effective use of legacy data from various exploration agency of the State of Odisha, followed by Airborne and Heliborne Surveys resulting in bringing out potential mineral blocks of different mineral commodity. The exploration programme will be conducted using latest technology as per international standards.
Singh said that, “Odisha is a mineral rich state. However, large part of the State is still unexplored. This exploration program will lead to the discovery of hidden mineral deposits across the state using the latest technology, which will help the state to utilise the mineral resources for the development of the State.”
Balwant Singh, MD, OMECL, said that with this project State will get structured and comprehensive Mineral Resource Map in coming days. He requested Geological Survey of India, Directorate of Geology and all related agencies to extend necessary cooperation and support for the timely achievement of every milestone under this initiative.
The agreement was signed by SK Sinha, Director (Geology), OMECL, Dr. Ian Haddon MD, MSA and S. Karunakar Rao MD of IDPeX in presence of other delegates including B.B. Pani, Director (Finance), OMECL, officials from Steel & Mines Department, Govt. of Odisha and officials of the Strategic Technical Consultant (STC) team.
From the STC team Dr. Ashley Johnson, Mr. Craig Blane and Mr. Dhruba Jyoti Nath were present. Consortium of MSA, South Africa & IDEPX (India) is a joint venture of IGS (UK), Datacode, India & PGW, Canada.
OMECL was incorporated in 2016 with prime objective of mineral exploration in the State and to upscale the mineral exploration activities so that the potential of mining sector is achieved through scientific exploration of mineral resources.
