India PGM Extraction Advances With OMC Pilot Trial in Odisha

Odisha Mining

India PGM extraction has taken an important step forward after Odisha Mining Corporation completed a pilot-scale trial to recover platinum group metals from chromite ore. The successful trial marks progress toward domestic production of platinum, palladium and rhodium.

India PGM extraction is strategically important because the country currently relies almost entirely on imported platinum group metals. Most of those imports come from South Africa and Russia, leaving Indian manufacturers exposed to supply disruptions, geopolitical risk and price volatility.

India PGM extraction could also strengthen the country’s broader critical metals strategy. PGMs are essential for automotive catalytic converters, clean-energy technologies, electronics, defence systems and advanced manufacturing.

The trial was completed at the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology in Bhubaneswar using chromite ore from OMC’s Bangur mine in Odisha. The 1 t/h pilot plant will now be used to validate recovery rates, operating stability and scalability under real-time conditions.

Chromite Ore Route Could Open Domestic PGM Supply

OMC’s pilot programme focuses on extracting PGMs from chromite ore associated with the Bangur mine. This is significant because chromite deposits can contain recoverable platinum group elements if mineralogy, processing and recovery economics are favourable.

The pilot plant will test whether the process can move beyond laboratory success. Recovery rates, concentrate quality, operational consistency and scalability will determine whether India can move toward commercial production.

The project was developed under a 100mn rupees research and development programme. OMC is working with CSIR-IMMT and Mintek South Africa, combining domestic resource access with international processing expertise.

This collaboration matters because PGM extraction and beneficiation are technically demanding. Platinum, palladium and rhodium often occur in low concentrations and require specialised processing, concentration and smelting routes.

The broader goal is to establish India’s first integrated PGM beneficiation and smelting facility. If successful, the project could turn Odisha’s chromite resources into a domestic source of strategic metals.

Critical Metals Security Becomes Industrial Priority

India’s dependence on imported PGMs creates risk for several industries. Automotive catalytic converters remain a major end-use, especially as emissions standards require reliable access to platinum, palladium and rhodium.

Defence, electronics and advanced manufacturing also need secure PGM supply. These applications often require small volumes but high reliability, making supply security more important than simple commodity availability.

Domestic PGM production would not immediately remove India’s import dependence. However, it could create a strategic buffer, support local processing skills and reduce exposure to external supply shocks.

OMC’s next challenge is commercialisation. The pilot plant must prove that recovery can be stable, scalable and economically viable using Bangur chromite feedstock.

For India’s critical minerals policy, the project shows the value of recovering strategic metals from existing mining operations. By-product recovery can improve resource efficiency and create new domestic supply streams without relying only on new primary mines.

The Metalnomist Commentary

OMC’s pilot trial shows that India is moving from critical minerals policy ambition into process development. The real breakthrough will come if Odisha’s chromite resources can support a commercial PGM beneficiation and smelting route.