(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
IREL (India) Limited (IREL) is a Central Public Sector Enterprise wholly owned by the Government of India under the Administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). IREL is a “Miniratna-I” company with integrated operations spanning different process 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.

Tamil Nadu Minerals Limited (TAMIN) is a Government of Tamil Nadu Undertaking 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.

The MoU was signed by D.Singh, CMD, IREL and Sudeep Jain I.A.S., MD, TAMIN 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.

The MoU is to undertake Mining of mineral sands (BSM) Mineral processing and value addition in the State of Tamil Nadu. This would be instrumental for obtaining Strategic mineral for Department of Atomic Energy besides ensuring availability of other minerals for the industry.