Background :

Bestowed with large reserves of Iron ore, India has been practicing the best methods to produce varieties of Steel and Alloy since ancient times. Magnesite (MgCO₃) is an important mineral for manufacturing basic refractory largely used for maintenance in the Steel Industry.

During the period 1963 to 1971, in order to cater to the growing demands for basic refractory by the Indian Steel industry, Magnesite deposit was identified and developed as opencast mines near Jhiroli (the then Almora District of Uttar Pradesh).

On 27^th August’ 1971, ALMORA MAGNESITE LIMITED (AML), was incorporated as a joint sector enterprise for the mining and processing of Magnesite promoted by U.P. State Industrial Development Corporation (51%) and Belpahar Refractories Ltd. now (TRL Krosaki Refractories Ltd.)  (49%).

During 1977-78, Hindustan Steel Limited now Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) acquired 20% stake in AML. Further, in 2020, consequent upon the finalization of the transfer of all assets and liabilities between the Govt of Uttar Pradesh and Govt. of Uttarakhand, UPSIDC transmitted its stake in AML to the State Infrastructure & Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd. (SIIDCUL).

The present shareholding of the Company is as per the following:

Present:

ALMORA MAGNESITE LIMITED is among the five largest producers of Magnesite in the country with estimated Magnesite reserves of about 8.84 million tonne. Leveraging over 50 years of rich industrial experience, the Company has emerged as a pioneer manufacturer & supplier of Dead Burnt Magnesite, Calcined Magnesite & Light Calcined Magnesite. Quality consciousness, ethical business practices and competence to attain overall excellence have made the brand ‘AML’ a name to rely upon.

The ability to deliver stable performance at higher temperatures (+2200⁰ C) makes our products highly demanded in Refractory manufacturing and furnace maintenance across Steel, Cement, Lime, non-ferrous metals, Glass, Energy, Environment and Chemical industries. Further, other grades of Magnesium Oxide manufactured by us also find widescale applications for slag conditioning, heat resistive linings and for manufacturing Magnesium Sulphate, animal mixture etc.

Owing to the above factors, our products have high demand not only in the country but are widely demanded internationally as well, particularly across South-East Asia, the Middle East and African regions.

For the past two decades, the Company has also been engaged in the mining of Steatite popularly known as ‘Soap Stone’ which finds huge demand in cosmetics, paints and paper industry.

With a view to supporting the infrastructural development in the region, the Company has established hi-tech Brick/ Block manufacturing unit wherein bricks, blocks, pavers, tiles etc having optimum compressive strength and quality are manufactured and offered at competitive prices along with other construction materials like M-Sand and Aggregates.

Future:

India stands as the second-largest producer of Steel in the world. The blueprint laid down by the National Steel Policy, 2017 which envisages 300 million tonnes of production capacity by 2030–31, alongwith the infusions of various initiatives by the Govt., the Steel Industries in the country are expected to make some major investments and production overhaul. Such large volumes of steel production require timebound maintenance of the Steel Melting Shops (SMS) in the Steel Industry and accordingly, the requirement for Refractory material is bound to increase. AML is committed to manufacturing quality DBM so as to match its production capacities with the growing requirements for refractory in the country.

Some of the future initiatives of the Company are:

•  Improving the quality of existing product line

The Company has been continuously working on improving the product quality and is now focusing on switching over to advanced firing technology with an aim to manufacture higher grade MgO- 90% having vast application in the Refractory Market. The Company is also developing products to suit the requirements of the mercantile market with due thrust on tapping the Chemical segment.

•  Product Development

Utilizing the higher-grade Magnesia, the Company also intends to manufacture and add Refractory Masses (Gunning & Ramming) to its product portfolio.

•  Waste Utilization:

Recently, the Company was able to successfully recycle the mineral rejects and product waste into re-usable material. The Company is dedicated to utilizing this material in its own processes and efforts are being made to explore the commercial application of the same.

•  Go-Green

Wider perspectives like environmentally benign mining and sustainable development form the very creed of our organization. Since its inception, the Company has been using Furnace Oil for the calcination of MgCo3 to MgO. However, owing to the close proximity of the Binsar- Eco-Sensitive Zone and the Great Himalayas, to that of the AML, Works., switching over to greener fuels is the need of the hour. Accordingly, the Company is working in the direction of switching over to Electric kilns by 2023. Further, efforts are also being made for the generation & utilization of Solar Power for our plant operations.