Mineral Technologies, a part of the Australia-based Downer group, is looking to focus on the beneficiation of coal and silica following a slowdown in demand for mining and processing of mineral sands, particularly in the private sector. The Central government had, last year, ‘abruptly prohibited’ the mining of monazite mineral by private entities and granting operating rights only to state-run companies.
According to Glen D’Costa, Regional Manager-India, Mineral Technologies, there is good opportunity to beneficiatesilica, which is a by-product of the mineral sands business. Silica is an important raw material for glass industry. This apart, coal beneficiation would be a key area of focus through sister company QCC, which has been merged with Mineral Technologies last year.
