India's largest coal handling agency - Mjunction

Cover Story
Mining equipment makers need
to step up R&D
Arusha Das
As India stands on the threshold of a massive
industrial resurgence, the mining sector and
consequently the equipment manufacturers, are
benefiting directly as a consequence.
No wonder then, that domestic and foreign
mining equipment companies are looking
forward to a period of stable growth in
India during the next two to three
years. This optimism is on the back
of resurgence in demand for highend
and cost-effective mining
equipment.
Just about a year ago, the
mining sector was not spared the
effects of the recession, though
it took a milder hit compared to
several other sectors. However,
the recovery has been fast.
“The mining sector has been expanding at 3 to 4
percent yearly, and this growth is expected to continue in
many of the key mining regions of the world with India
and China providing the momentum. Coal production
in the country has moved up by 3-4 percent while
iron ore production has surged by around
4-5 percent,” managing director of
the German engineering federation
VDMA, Rajesh Nath, informed Coal
Insights.
Demand supply curve
The industrial sector registered
a growth of 7.6 percent during
April-November in 2009-
10, against 4.1 percent in the
corresponding period of last year.
The mining sector posted a growth
COAL INSIGHTS 6 October 2010