New Delhi: IREL (India) Limited (IREL) has entered into MoU with Tamil Nadu Minerals Limited (TAMIN) to undertake the mining of mineral sands (BSM) mineral processing and value addition in the State of Tamil Nadu. According to an official statement from IREL, this partnership would be instrumental for obtaining strategic minerals for the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) besides ensuring the availability of other minerals for the industry.
The MoU has been signed by IREL's Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) D Singh and TAMIN's Managing Director (MD) Sudeep Jain (IAS) in the august presence of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Minister for Water Resources, Mines & Minerals and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission & Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Government of Tamil Nadu.
IREL is a Miniratna PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy with integrated operations spanning different processes and plants which inter-alia include mining of mineral sands, concentration, mineral processing, upgradation of Rare Earth bearing mineral, extraction of Rare Earths and other strategic compounds and Rare Earth Refining.
While, TAMIN is a Government of Tamil Nadu Undertaking. It was started in 1978 and is engaged in the exploration, mining, exploitation, processing and marketing of Granite, Graphite, Limestone, Vermiculite, Quartz, Feldspar, Silica sand, fire clay etc.
The proposal from Government of Tamil Nadu to enter into MoU with TAMIN to harness the mineral sands deposits in the state was approved by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in October 2022 with the desire that mineral wealth in Tamil Nadu be scientifically exploited, using eco-friendly mining methods, so that downstream industries can be started to expand industrial growth, provide strategic compounds to DAE and to create job opportunities to local people.
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