The 2nd North East Mining Ministers’ Conclave was inaugurated today in Guwahati, Assam, marking a major milestone in unlocking the mineral and coal potential of the North Eastern Region. The inaugural session was graced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam as Chief Guest, along with the Hon’ble Union Minister of Coal & Mines, the Hon’ble Minister of State for Coal & Mines, and Mining Ministers and representatives from the other North Eastern states. The event commenced with the inauguration of an exhibition showcasing exploration activities, sustainable mining practices, and technological innovations tailored to the region.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam shared that the state has initiated the auction of seven limestone blocks in the Umrangso area of Dima Hasao district, with five already auctioned and Letters of Intent issued, and the remaining two expected to be auctioned by August 2025. He expressed confidence that, with the support of the Government of India and Indian Bureau of Mines, at least one of these limestone blocks could be operationalised by December 2025. The Chief Minister informed that during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit, the Mines and Minerals Department signed 14 MoUs securing investment commitments exceeding ₹46,000 crore from national and international investors. He assured the gathering of Assam’s conducive working environment and announced that the state cabinet has approved the formation of the Assam State Mineral Trust to promote sustainable mining and exploration of minor minerals. He added that the Assam Mineral Policy is in its final stage of formulation and is expected to be implemented within a month. Emphasising inclusive development, he also highlighted community-level initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Khsetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) in education, drinking water, sanitation, welfare of women and children, senior citizens, and skill development. He urged all North Eastern states to proactively take up mineral exploration with the support of the Government of India to maximise state revenues.
Addressing the Conclave, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, underscored the North East’s critical role in India’s mining and energy roadmap. He emphasised that under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the mineral-rich states of the North East are now receiving focused attention to transform untapped resources into drivers of economic growth, employment, and local empowerment. The Minister reaffirmed the Centre’s full support to all North Eastern states to develop state-specific mining action plans and stressed the importance of environmentally responsible, technologically advanced mining practices. He also highlighted the need to align mineral initiatives with disaster preparedness, scientific research, and community development.
The Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, in his remarks, hailed the conclave as a historic step toward regional economic resurgence. He noted the abundance of limestone and oxide reserves across Assam, Meghalaya, and Sikkim, highlighting that mining not only generates employment but also contributes directly to building a self-reliant India. He commended Assam and other North Eastern states for their progressive outlook and readiness to integrate with national priorities.
In his address, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, highlighted the North East’s strategic importance for India’s energy security, owing to its rich tertiary coal deposits across Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sikkim. These deposits, he noted, are characterised by high calorific value, low ash, and relatively higher sulphur content. He shared that 10% of funds under Central Sector funded schemes for Exploration have been earmarked specifically for the North East, underscoring the need for targeted exploration initiatives. The Secretary also informed that five coal blocks in the region have been successfully auctioned, with a combined capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per annum, expected to create around 1,650 jobs and generate nearly ₹800 crore in annual revenue for the states. He reiterated that sustainability remains central to the Ministry’s coal development strategy in the region.
Shri VL Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, underscored that the Geological Survey of India has identified over 36,000 square kilometres in the North East as having mineral potential, translating to nearly 3,000 prospective mines. He highlighted that Assam has now firmly entered the national auction map, signalling a new era for mineral development. He called for expanding exploration and research, including leveraging Artificial Intelligence in mineral discovery. Notably, the North East is home to one of India’s first AI-supported exploration projects sanctioned under the National Mineral Exploration Trust. The Secretary urged all state governments to actively facilitate exploration, considering the challenging topography, and to ensure sustainability and adequate security for geologists working in remote areas.
During the inaugural session, significant documents were released, including the Geological Potential of Northeast India which contains the details of the vast yet underexplored mineral resources of the eight Northeast States, laying the roadmap for strategic exploration, research, augmentation and sustainable development. The document on Mining in India’s Northeast by Indian Bureau of Mines was also released. The Ministry of Mines unveiled updated District Resource Maps covering Dibrugarh (Assam), East Kameng (Arunachal Pradesh), Kamjong (Manipur), East Garo (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram), Phek (Nagaland), Namchi (Sikkim), and Gomati (Tripura) to guide future investments. In a landmark move, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam handed over 2 bighas of land in North Guwahati to the Geological Survey of India for establishing a new regional office. Allotment letters were also handed over to the Chairman, Coal India Limited for the extension of the Tirap and Tikok opencast coal mines, further enhancing regional production capability.
Shri Kaushik Rai, Minister of Mines, Assam; Shri Pintso Namgyal Lepcha, Minister of Mines, Sikkim; Shri Wangki Lowang, Minster of Mines, Arunachal Pradesh; Shri W Chingang Konyak, MLA & Adviser to CM, Nagaland; Shri AT Mondal, Minister of Power, Meghalaya were also present during the inaugural session.
The inaugural day also included technical sessions on exploration activities, state reforms, incentives, sustainable coal mining, renewable energy prospects in the North East, and mine safety measures. The second day will feature detailed presentations by all eight North Eastern states on their mining sectors, speeches by state mining ministers, and a summary of discussions highlighting collaborative strategies for responsible mineral development.
India’s mineral auction framework has gained strong momentum in recent months. Since FY 2024–25, a total of 283 mineral blocks have been put up for auction by the State and Central Governments. Of these, 161 mineral blocks have been successfully auctioned, bringing the cumulative tally to 515. This includes five mineral blocks from Assam and four critical mineral blocks from Arunachal Pradesh, opening new avenues for industrial growth and employment in the region. These auctions underscore the readiness of the North-East to play a central role in India’s critical mineral strategy, while also reflecting the government’s commitment to transparency and competitiveness in resource allocation. The conclave is expected to serve as a catalyst for accelerating investment, innovation, and inclusive growth in the mineral and coal sectors of the North Eastern Region, in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat. The First Northeast Geology & Mining Ministers’ Conclave was held in October 2022 in Nagaland.
