Cabinet approves MoU on cooperation between Geological Survey of India and Russia’s Rosgeologia

The union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of geosciences between Rosgeologia (ROSGEO), a semi-government entity incorporated under the laws of the Russian Federation and the Geological Survey of India (GSI), an entity under the ministry of mines.

The MoU aims at extending mutual cooperation for technological collaboration on exploration for deep-seated and / or concealed mineral deposit; analysis and interpretation of the aero-geophysical data; PGE and REE exploration and research; joint development of the Indian geoscience data repository with the Russian state-of-the-art information technology; exchange of technology and knowledge in the field of drilling, sampling and laboratory analysis to achieve data accuracy, and cost optimisation; and training and capacity building of scientific personnel etc, between "both the parties” in the various fields of geoscience.

In view of the rich experience Both ROSGEO and GSI have rich experience in the field of geosciences and their potential of cooperation will be particularly beneficial in providing an umbrella framework for co-operation between the two countries.

Rosgeologia is the largest geological state holding company in the Russian Federation with developed production and technical capabilities, high professional competences and a unique scope of accumulated geological information. The company performs all types of geological prospecting and exploration activities from regional surveys for all types of mineral resources to estimation of the reserves and commissioning of the fields into operation. It possesses the unique competence in the area of offshore geological and on-shelf operations

During a visit to India last year, a delegation of ROSGEO had a meeting with the officials of ministry of mines and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to discuss the perspectives of cooperation in exploration works in New Delhi. In this meeting, an MoU was proposed to be signed between GSI and ROSGEO on cooperation in the field of geosciences. Accordingly, GSI finalised a draft MoU in consultation with its Russian counterpart.