Runge Mining is a Brisbane based firm providing business oriented mine planning services. Runge provides consulting services to assist mines achieve higher returns through economically focussed mine planning. They also develop and sell software for mine planning, optimisation, management decision support and financial analysis. Runge has overseas representative offices in the United States, Canada, Chile and South Africa.

In the late 1990s, Runge explored opportunities in the Indian market, but this effort met with little success. However, after further approaches from Indian contacts and gaining in-house knowledge of the market, they again assessed the Indian market in 2000. Contacts made on a trade mission in early 2000 led to an opportunity to tender for a mining software project, which is currently in development. Runge personnel also visited and established an alliance with SRG, an Indian mining engineering consulting group based in Kolkatta (West Bengal). Runge believe SRG have the skills and expertise to offer comprehensive support for Runge’s software products in this region.

While positive about their Indian future, Runge notes the differences in business culture and operating environment. It recognises infrastructure difficulties and cultural differences can make doing business very time consuming. The bureaucratic and hierarchical nature of most firms, difficulty in obtaining decisions and an occasional lack of transparency in business dealings are further problems. However, Runge believes patience and commitment overcome most of these issues.

Source: Runge Mining, 2001.