NMDC ltd and Defence Metallurgical Research laboratory (DMRl) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at NMDC Head Office in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
PK Satpathy, Director (Production), NMDC ltd had signed the MoU on behalf of NMDC and Dr Samir V Kamat, Director signed on behalf of DMRl, a company press release informed.
Dr Narendra Kumar Nanda, Director (Technical), NMDC and S.K.Jha, Director(Production & Marketing), MIDHANI were also present during the occasion.
NMDC and DMRl will together work on preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for assessment of potential tungsten reserves within the country and explore opportunities for acquisition/ sourcing tungsten minerals elsewhere abroad through appointment of reputed consultants.
Tungsten (W) metal is of strategic importance to our country because of its essential requirement in the manufacture of Tungsten based heavy alloy ammunition systems for our armed forces. Availability of tungsten in India is very limited and not being mined as it is economically not viable.
China is the largest producer of Tungsten producing more than 80% of world production. Presently, India’s requirement of this strategic mineral is being met through imports.