Research on Buttala iron ore deposits

Anjana Samarasinghe

Studies: Ministry of Industrial Development expects to appoint a committee to carry on further studies on the Iron ore deposits in Buttala in the Moneragala District.

Minister of Industrial Development Kumara Welgama had visited the iron ore deposit areas recently and decided to appoint a committee to carry on studies on the deposits.

Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Industrial Development R. V. D. Piyatilake told Daily News that this committee will consist of all the stakeholder including industrialists, politicians and scientists.

However research carried out by one of the representatives from the University of Peradeniya on the samples that have been taken from this deposits has proved that the iron ore could be used as raw materials for industrial production.

The committee will evaluate the data currently available on the deposits.

Committee will also make further studies to make sure the deposits are commercially viable. "These studies will reveal the quality and the quantity of the deposits," he said.

"Ministry expects to utilize the resources for the local industries. Without exporting as a raw material it is important to add value for the iron ore.

These deposits will be a huge boost for the local metal industries and other industries, which used steel as a raw material, Piyatilake said.