NMDC, MIDHANI ink pact for development of tungsten mining

State-run firm NMDC and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd (MIDHANI) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for mining and development of processing technology for Tungsten.
"Tungsten metal is of strategic importance to our country because of its essential requirement in the manufacture of Tungsten based heavy alloy ammunition systems for armed forces," NMDC said.
China is the largest producer of Tungsten, accounting for more than three quarters of the world production.
Availability of Tungsten in India is very limited and not being mined due to the lean ores.
Presently, India's requirement of this strategic mineral is being met mainly through imports, the iron ore miner said.

"NMDC being a strong mining company with experience in acquisition of mineral assets abroad and MIDHANI having expertise in metals and alloys providing technical support and coordination for Ammonium Para Tungstate (APT) can combine their complementary strengths, it added.

The partnership will lead to a win-win venture in developing the identified tungsten mineral assets in India and abroad, NMDC said.
"This alliance would strengthen both NMDC and MIDHANI to explore jointly the Tungsten assets in India and abroad for investment and development of technologies for converting Tungsten ore to APT and Tungsten powder," it added.
An important industrial mineral, tungsten and its alloys are used extensively for filaments for electric lamps, electron and television tubes, missile and high-temperature applications among others.