Strategic Programme

Chief Guest

Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat
Hon'ble Member, NITI Aayog 
Government of India

Keynote Speakers

Mahendra Singhi
Board Member & Strategic Advisor 
Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited

Atanu Mukherjee
CEO 
Dastur Energy Inc.

Harnessing the Deccan Basaltic Capacity for Large Scale CO2 Storage: Perspectives on Research, Technology, and Economics for Accelerating Deployment at Scale

Sushma Rawat
Director (Exploration) 
ONGC

Dr. Bibhas Sen
Deputy Director General
Geological Survey of India (Maharashtra)

Geological Perspectives of CO2 Storage in Deccan Basalts: Insights from Ongoing Experiments'. 

Prof. Ralf Haese
Professor 
The University of Melbourne 

Dr. Ryan M. Pollyea
Associate Professor 
Virginia Tech

Carbon Storage beyond the Basin: Opportunities & Challenges for CCS in Basalt Formations

Prof. Dr. Eric H. Oelkers
Adjunct Professor
University of Iceland

Dr. Sigurður Reynir Gíslason
Research Professor - Geochemistry 
University of Iceland

Carbon Mineralization via the CarbFix Method

Prof. Peter Kelemen
Professor  
Columbia University

Panel Discussions

Panel 1: Accelerating CCS in India: R&D, Policy and Deployment

Monday, 3 February 2025 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar

Successful deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) will require overcoming a variety of challenges in building institutional, regulatory, R&D and operational capabilities to develop CO2 geological storage resources. This session will explore the research gaps and practical challenges in deploying geologic CO2 storage. 

Key Discussion Points: 

1. What role can CCS play in achieving net-zero emissions targets and enhancing energy security? What are the key components of the Government of India's upcoming CCS Mission?
2. What factors are driving global interest in CCS? What steps are needed to accelerate the development of CO2 storage resources in India, and how can we build the human resource capacity required to meet increasing demand?
3. What are the initial opportunities for CCS deployment in India? How can India's institutional and operational capabilities be further strengthened to support the successful implementation of CCS technologies?

Moderator

Prof. Vikram Vishal 
Professor 
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay

Panel 2: CCS in Basalts as a Game Changer

Tuesday, 4 February 2025 | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Gandhinagar

CO2 storage in basalts has received much support in the scientific literature since the successful field demonstration projects at the CarbFix site (Iceland) and the Wallula site (USA). Furthermore, the CO2 storage capacity is estimated to be very large in continental flood basalt provinces such as the Deccan Trap Province. What are the opportunities and barriers for basalts to become a game changer for CCS? 

Key Discussion Points: 

1. What are the technical benefits of CO2 storage in basalts? What further research is required before CO2 storage in basalts can be deployed at large scale?
2. Apart from new scientific insights, what were the benefits of the CarbFix and Wallula field experiments? Who became interested in CO2 storage in basalts other than the scientific community?
3. If we think about the development of large-scale CO2 storage in the Deccan Trap Province, what are the next steps? Who are the key players? 

Moderator

Prof. Ralf Haese
Professor 
University of Melbourne

Panelist(s)

Dr. Sigurður Reynir Gíslason
Research Professor - Geochemistry 
University of Iceland