Bhubaneswar, Oct. 14: The Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology here has taken up a project to pelletise iron in a new state-of-the-art plant here.

Union minister for science and technology Harsh Vardhan today laid the foundation stone for the plant at the institute. The pellets will make it convenient for industries to use extracted metals.

The institute conducts scientific tests on various types of ores, including low-grade iron ore found across the country. It has recently taken up the ambitious programme of processing the iron ore by setting up a pelletisation plant with a budget of Rs 20 crore.

Pelletisation involves compressing or moulding any material into the shape of a pellet.

The institute is collaborating with a private engineering and construction company that undertakes projects involving commissioning and demonstration of plants in the metallaurgical and material handling sector. Both the institute and the company are bringing their expertise in the sector and collaborating to develop the technology of the pellet plant process.

The company will scale up the process to establish industrial grade commercial pellet plant technology.

During his visit, Harsh Vardhan interacted with the director and heads of departments of various research and development groups of the institute. He was also given an overview of various research projects and pilots that are ongoing at the institute.

Institute director B.K. Mishra presented an overview of the activities and significant achievements of the institute to the minister as well.

The Union minister also addressed the members of staff, scientists and research scholars at the institute. "The institute should contribute its scientific and technological knowledge to boost entrepreneurship driven-growth of industrial clusters in the entire state," he said.

"This," he said, "would enable young engineers and scientists to find a role in the Union government's mission programmes such as Start-up India and Make in India."

He also hailed the institute's contribution to strengthen the Indian iron and steel industries.

The minister visited two major facilities on mineral processing and sea-bed minerals programme being developed at the institute.

During his visit, Harsh Vardhan paid special interest in the sea bed minerals research centre at the institute, which is being sponsored by the ministry of earth sciences.

Harsh Vardhan also suggested exploring other rare earth elements apart from manganese nodule as sea bed mineral.

Harsh Vardhan also visited an exposition of other industrial, societal and appropriate technologies and products developed by the institute. Later in the evening, he visited the Institute of Life Sciences and interacted with the scientists and scholars.