India's First Platinum Group Element Extraction Pilot Plant Launched
OMC, Mintek pilot plant enables platinum group element extraction in India
Business Standard
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Odisha Mining Corporation Ltd (OMC) has successfully conducted a trial run of India's first platinum group element (PGE) extraction pilot plant at the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This initiative aims to reduce import dependence and enhance self-reliance in critical minerals essential for clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
- 01OMC's pilot plant is the first of its kind in India for extracting platinum group elements.
- 02The project is part of a ₹10-crore (roughly $1.2 million USD) collaboration with South Africa’s Mintek.
- 03The pilot plant will validate recovery rates and scalability for commercial development.
- 04Odisha holds over 98% of India's chromite reserves, making it crucial for PGE extraction.
- 05OMC reported its highest mineral production of 44.82 million tonnes in 2025-26.
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In a significant advancement for India's strategic minerals sector, the Odisha Mining Corporation Ltd (OMC) successfully conducted a trial run of a platinum group minerals (PGM) pilot plant at the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This initiative, developed in collaboration with South Africa’s Mintek, is part of a ₹10-crore (approximately $1.2 million USD) research project aimed at establishing India's first integrated platinum group element (PGE) beneficiation and smelting ecosystem. The pilot plant, capable of processing one tonne of ore per hour, will assess the consistency, recovery rates, and scalability of PGE extraction from ore sourced from the Bangur chromite mines in Keonjhar district.
The successful extraction of PGEs such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium is crucial for various industries, including clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. Given that global supplies of these elements are concentrated in a few countries, this initiative is vital for reducing India's import dependence. The pilot plant's design was informed by field studies conducted in October 2025, focusing on the characteristics and extraction pathways of chromite ore. OMC's achievement comes as it reports record mineral production and revenue, highlighting its commitment to sustainable mining and diversification into value-added minerals.
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The successful extraction of PGEs could boost Odisha's economy by opening new revenue streams and enhancing local industries reliant on these minerals.
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