Environment Society Economy

At BMPA, members are encouraged to do backfilling – the waste sand from the mineral processing sites is carried back to the mining area for refilling the sites, so that the natural topography is restored.

The entire process is eco-friendly and energy efficient. Heavy mineral concentrate separated from the deposit is sun dried manually and requires no additional sources of energy. Harnessing natural solar power to dry the concentrate saves 133kg of carbon dioxide for every ton – that is nearly 100,000 tonnes in a year.

As there are no chemicals used at any point, there is no toxic discharge. Sea water is used in the concentration plants, saving precious fresh water of about 1600 litres per ton of concentrate – that is 1.2 million kilo litres a year!

Member organisations of the BMPA become an intrinsic part of the coastal communities around which they operate. By providing specialised industrial skills, employment, utilities, amenities, initiatives and more, the BMPA ensures that the local community is empowered, independent and successful.

Local Employment

Local Skill Upgradation

Health Care

Education

Women’s Empowerment

Community Support Initiatives

A country’s GDP is measured in terms of its industrial output, and optimal usage of mineral resources is a key contributing factor in ensuring a competitive GDP. Minerals are the backbone of many industries, forming a key input in many manufacturing and industrial processes to ensure optimum output of internationally competitive quality. For a smooth and uninhibited progress of India’s industries, focus on harnessing its mineral resources for industrial purposes should be of utmost importance.

A carefully strategized and well planned utilisation of the country’s minerals will ensure availability of resources for various industrial uses and also provide lucrative opportunities to export the surplus.

Mineral Pricing

Employment Opportunities

Potential Business Opportunities

Local Employment

The mineral processing activity has 3 elements:

Mining and transportation of ore
Operating wet and dry mineral separation equipment for separation of individual minerals
Sales and marketing

Our members are encouraged to engage only local populace for the mining and transportation. By this means, our members provide direct employment to 50,000 persons and indirect employment to over 3 lakh persons. Qualified persons are also given preferential employment for specialised tasks.

Local Skill Upgradation

Some of our members run engineering colleges and they provide scholarships for female students from impoverished backgrounds, in addition to making high class education accessible to remote areas. Students who wish to pursue careers in mining and geology are given training and opportunities. Since India is a leading producer of titanium ores, the local people have access to equipment and operating practices in beach minerals business.Local people get preferential treatment in admission of Engineering College for their children.

Health Care

All our members are strongly encouraged to provide health care support to employees and local communities; indeed most members do so excellently. Medical coverage is provided for employees and their families, covering everything from minor illnesses to major ones. Cashless treatment for emergencies is also taken care of, and any medicines or lab facilities availed are reimbursed.Free Health Centre with 24 hours doctor and nurses is operated to give free treatment to the local people.

Two free medical camps per year is organized by our members for all the surrounding villages of the mining area.

Free toilet facilities and drinking water facilities were arranged for all the houses around the mining area villages.

Education

The BMPA member units regularly contributes to the education of poor &local communities by distributing free notebooks, educational equipment, uniforms, new furniture and supplies to schoolsaround the mining, mineral processing area and its nearby district by our members. It also equips educational institutions with necessary infrastructure. Some of our members run educational institutions and sponsor meritorious students through scholarships. To develop language skills, the colleges are equipped with language lab. They also further assist them in developing their language and interview skills for satisfactory placements.

Women’s Empowerment

BMPA regularly offers a unique and custom-tailored entrepreneurial development programmes for women in the beach minerals industry. This programme also has a special focus on tie-ups with other relevant associations and focuses on the development and empowerment of women in coastal areas. More than 2000 coastal village women were organized in separate self-help groups and crores of rupees were given to the groups without any interest for the up-gradation of the community.

Community Support Initiatives

Members become a true part of the local communities they operate in and around. In addition to assisting educational institutions and womenfolk, they also undertake the responsibility of improving the infrastructure, roads and facilities. Awareness drives for various diseases, blood donation camps, sports competitions and other community entertainment activities are also undertaken.

Mineral Pricing

Indicative Price Range of Beach Minerals

Mineral	FOB/MT
Ilmenite	$ 100 – 200
Garnet	$ 150 – 300
Zircon	$ 700 – 800
Rutile	$ 700 – 900
Sillimanite	₹ 6000 – 8000

The prices depend on the product grades, specifications and customer requirementsand mode of packing etc.,. Market prices fluctuate depending on market demand and supply.

Employment Opportunities

The beach minerals industry has the potential to provide a capital employment of about Rs 120,000 crore if it were to achieve the international production to reserve ratio of 0.01%. The industry provides gainful employment to several lakhs of people, primarily from remote or rural areas where mineral resources are located.

Since the industry operates in coastal areas amidst local seaside communities that are generally not economically stable, helping the industry achieve its fullest employment potential is pertinent for the country’s overall development. If we are truly to become a superpower, it is vital that we empower all strata of the society.

Potential Business Opportunities

India has almost 35 per cent of the world’s total ilmenite deposits and 71 per cent of the world’s total monazite deposits. The Indian beach minerals industry is estimated to potentially be worth Rs 90,000 crore in annual turnover, and Rs 50,000 crore worth of foreign exchange.

Prior to the liberalization of Beach Minerals Mining in 1998, the production to reserve ratio (PRR) in India was less than 0.001%. Since then, the production to reserve ratio has grown to 0.0018% - an 80% increase. Australia and Canada have a PRR of around 0.01%, a ratio that India can easily match, if the government’s policies to this sector are reasonable.

India has vast natural resources, technical know-how and skilled manpower; all of which can ensure a thriving and robust beach minerals industry. These minerals are utilised in virtually every sector and every walk of life, and the world today would not function without them. The industry can only grow to new heights from here, and BMPA is determined to ensure that happens.