HWB, BARC Launch Metal-G Recovery Plant at NALCO.

The Heavy Water Board (HWB), in partnership with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), has begun constructing a demonstration plant to recover valuable Metal-G from spent liquor at NALCO’s alumina refinery in Damanjodi, Odisha.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on November 20, 2025, was attended by HWB Chairman S. Satyakumar and NALCO Chairman Brijendra Pratap Singh. The project employs an Ion-Exchange (IX) process along with indigenously developed special resin and solvent to extract Metal-G—an essential material for high-speed semiconductors and integrated circuits used in space and defence applications.

Chairman Satyakumar emphasised the strategic significance of the initiative, noting that recovering Metal-G from NALCO’s spent liquor will help reduce India’s reliance on imports for semiconductor requirements. The facility supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and offers an environmentally friendly, scalable pathway for domestic Metal-G production.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.