Mineral sands plant to be set up in Pulmoddai

By L. S. A. Wedaarachchi

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The multi-million dollar mineral sands based industrial plant will be set up in Pulmoddai in the Eastern province.

Additional Secretary, Ministry of Industrial Development, Titus Jayawardena said that mineral sands such as Ilmanite, Rutile and Zircon which were sent to industrial countries as raw materials will be used to manufacture costly value added products from the plant.

The Industrial Development Ministry has called for worldwide tenders for the lucrative project and received tenders from an internationally renowned European company and two Asian companies.

After the technical and financial evaluation which are almost complete the ministry will convey its decision to the successful bidder, he said. Mineral sand is a rare raw material for taitanium dioxide pigment, taitanium sponge and taitanium metal which are used by the USA, Europe, Japan and China to manufacture planes and sophisticated products.