Address: Minerals Recovery Plant
Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL)
Sherbano, 6th Floor, Maharshi Karve Road,
Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400 020
Telephone: 91-22-2030914
Fax: 91-22-2004430
Email: irecmd@bom3.vsnl.net.in
Chairman and Managing Director: Dr. T.K. Mukherjee
Subordinate to: Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
Primary Function: Mining and processing of mineral sands for the production of industrial minerals

Description and Activities:
The Minerals Recovery Plant in Chavara (Kerala) is owned and operated by Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL). The plant mines and processes sand in the production of industrial minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, monazite, zircon, sillimanite, and garnet. In addition, IREL has established a Microzir Plant at Chavara for the production of fine zircon powder with applications in the ceramic industry. According to the Department of Atomic Energy's (DAE) Annual Report 2000-2001, the Minerals Recovery Plant at Chavara expanded production and profits by acquiring nine acres of additional mining land through a government approved negotiation process with local villages.

Key Sources: DAE (Government of India), "Annual Report 2000-2001," Executive Summary available at <http://www.dae.gov.in/ar2001/execsum.htm>; "Nuclear Fuel Cycle," Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), 31 January 2002, <http://www.dae.gov.in/>; "Nuclear Material Production Facilities," GlobalSecurity.org, 12 August 2002, <www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/india/overview-nuke.htm>.

	Updated September 2003