Value added products from mineral resources
By L. S. A. Wedaarachchi
[email protected]
The mineral resources which are exported to Japan USA and Europe as
raw materials are now being partly retained to manufacture value added
products.
Minister of Industrial Development, Kumar Welgama has instructed
Lanka Mineral Sands Company Ltd (LMSC) to go ahead with the manufacture
of value added products such as Titarian metals and bullet proof
glasses.
The ilmenite cerkone and Rutile which are produced by Lanka Mineral
Sands Company have a big demand in the world market.
Industrialised countries such as Japan, USA, China and Europe use the
mineral sand to manufacture costly titarian metals, bullet proof glass
and similar sophisticated items.
The cost of a ton of titarian metal which is used to manufacture
aircraft costs US $ 3500, said the Additional Secretary, Ministry of
Industrial Development I. D. Piyatileke. LMSC targets a production of
20,000 tonnes of ilmenite cerkone and rutile this year which will double
the production of last year, he said.
The peaceful environment in the East will help LMSC to expand its
operations and explore other industrial ventures, he said.
LMSC will enter into a joint venture with a technically advanced
foreign company to produce value added mineral sand based products, he
said. |