IREL’s production of Rare Earths during 2009-14 is 310.145 metric tones

The total production of Rare Earths in the country by Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) during the last 5 years (2009-14) is 310.145 metric tonnes and the total sale of the Rare Earths during the same period is 285.90 metric tonnes.

However, recently, Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) has set up a 10,000 tonne per annum Monazite Processing Plant (MoPP) at its Orissa Sand Complex (OSCOM) unit at Chhattrapur, Odisha. The Plant is designed to produce 11,000 tonne per annum Mixed Rare Earths Chloride (MRECL), equivalent to 5,000 tonnes of Rare Earths Oxide (REO) at its full capacity and it is in its final stage of commissioning. This production capacity is about 3% of the current global production of Rare Earths Oxide, which is estimated at 1,30,000 tonne per annum. Further, IREL has developed technology to produce Separated Rare Earths Oxides (SREOs) of various purities up to their very high pure form from MRECL and this facility at rare earth division at Alwaye, Kerala is also under commissioning. The facility can process 5,500 tonnes of MRECL.

In addition, IREL, in collaboration with its technology partners such as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), Hyderabad is also developing the process of making Rare Earth Metal from SREO and further convert them to permanent magnets of high power density.

This information was provided by MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh in a reply to an unstarred question in Rajya Sabha today.

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NK