Expert committee to undertake detailed study on mineral deposits and come up with plan for utilisation

The government has decided to appoint an expert committee to undertake a detailed study on the country’s unutilised mineral deposits, in order to come up with a programme to utilise such minerals formally for
economic purposes.

Based on a proposal presented by Industries Minister Wimal Weerawansa, the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday decided to appoint a committee constituting of eminent experts in the field to carry out a detailed study on the areas where these minerals are located, their extent, the quantities of those deposits and the products in which those minerals can be utilised.

In accordance with the recommendations of the expert committee, the government plans to utilise such minerals for economic purposes with an implementation mechanism.

Currently, the government identifies the existing mineral resources with an economic value under four groups— energy minerals, minerals within the category of ferus and ferro alloy family, non-ferus minerals and minerals coming under the category of non-metal minerals.

Although there’s an increasing demand for minerals such as   ilmenite, zircon, rutile and graphite, including for exports, the Government Information Department noted that there are several other minerals that remain unutilised for economic purposes, due to the absence of a mechanism
for utilisation. 

“Lanka Mineral Sand Limited and Kahatagaha Graphite Lanka Limited already excavate, refine and export the minerals namely ilmenite, zircon, rutile and graphite, while the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and Gem and Jewellery Research Centre are engaged in gem and jewellery-related activities. Apart from those minerals, it has been observed that the government mediation for the utilisation of other minerals has been identified as inefficient,” it elaborated.

Sri Lanka has also seen foreign interest for minerals, particularly for the country’s high-quality graphite deposits, with several foreign players already acquiring mining blocks.