Dhanbad, Nov. 3: Identification and exploration of fossil fuel and mineral resources is the focus of the three-day national conference on frontier areas in Geological and Technological Aspects of Fossil Fuel and Mineral Resources (GTFM -2006), which began yesterday.

This first-of-its-kind event has been organised by the applied geology department of the Indian School of Mines (ISM).

The rapid growth rate of Indian economy would subsequently increase the demand of fossil fuel and mineral resources in the country. Hence, the need is to understand the aspects of “genesis, exploration, extraction, processing and sustainable development of earth resources,” keeping in mind the environmental safeguards, the geologists present at the conference said.

The conference aims to provide a platform to scientists, academicians, industry personnel, policy makers, consultants and instrument manufacturers to discuss and understand the geological and technical aspects of fossil fuel and mineral resources.

Convener of the conference Atul Kr Varma said: “Discussions would help in disseminating information for reviewing the fossil fuel and mineral policy of the country.”

Organising secretary of the conference A.S. Venkatesh said delegates from various sectors all over India are here. Some delegates of a petroleum company had also come from abroad for a day to throw light on the importance of the subject of the conference.

Shell Technology India, Union department of science and technology, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, National Mineral Development Corporation, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Elkem Industries and Larsen and Toubro are among the major sponsors and participants of the event.