V. V. Minerals Expands Operations To Odisha

V. V. Minerals is planning for excavation and refining of the mineral in Odisha. The investment of this project is estimated to be around Rs 100 crores.

V. V. Minerals is a Tamil Nadu-based mining firm having largest market share in ilmenite production and exports, and one of the largest Indian companies in the sand mining business.

“We are planning to apply for 2-3 areas in Odisha for excavating ilmenite and garnet. We will also invest Rs 75 crore to 100 crore for establishing a mineral refining plant in the state,” said V Subramaniun, director of the firm. VVM is the first private exporter of ilmenite and is the leading manufacturer and exporter of the mineral.

 “Production of ilmenite has been slow in India due to tough regulations and limited awareness about it. The government must change its position on the mineral,” added Subramaniun.

“Along with the tough regulations, the processing of lease grant should be made faster if we want to tap its potential because apart from exports, the mineral will be in huge demand from domestic market in future,” said the V. V. Mineral official.

Ilmenite is upgraded to titanium dioxide to be used in consumer goods like paper, plastic, paint colour and cosmetic industries such as sunscreen. The proposal of V. V. Minerals is strategically important as Kolkata-based Saraf Agencies Private Ltd (SAPL) is constructing a titanium slag plant near Gopalpur with an investment of Rs 250 crore. These plants use ilmenite as feedstock.