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SHORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWER ON MOIL

1.  When was MOIL established and where is its headquarters located?

Answer: The company was formerly known as Manganese Ore (India) Limited. and changed its name to MOIL Limited in 2010. The company was founded in 1896 and is headquartered in Nagpur, India.

2.  Brief history of MOIL.

Answer: In the year 1896, the company was originally set up as the Central Province Prospecting Syndicate in the region of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

In 1935, the company was renamed as the Central Provinces Manganese Ore Company Limited (CPMO).

In 1962, the Government of India took over the mining activities from CPMO. Following the government takeover, the company was restructured and rebranded as MOIL Limited.

3.  Which government holds the majority stake in MOIL?

Answer: At present the shareholding pattern of the company is Govt. of India (53.35%), Govt. of Maharashtra (5.96%) and Govt. of Madhya Pradesh (5.38%) and Public (35.31%).

4.  In which states are MOIL’s manganese mines located?

Answer: At present, MOIL operates its underground and opencast mines located in the Nagpur and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra and Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. All these mines are about a century old.

5.  How many mines does MOIL currently operate?

Answer: At present, MOIL operates 10 mines – six located in the Nagpur and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra and four in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh

6.  Which mine is the largest and deepest Manganese mine in India?

Answer: The Balaghat Mine is the largest mine of the Company, which produces one of the best quality manganese ore in the country is also the deepest underground manganese mine in Asia.  The mine has now reached a depth of over 500 meters from the surface.

7.  How does MOIL contribute to the steel industry in India?

Answer: MOIL fulfills about 70% of the total requirement of dioxide ore in India.  The total production of manganese ore from all the mines constitutes about 65% of requirement of the country.

8.  Who is the current Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of MOIL?

Answer: Ajit Kumar Saxena is currently the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of MOIL.

9.  Explain the process of extraction from manganese ore and the different methods used.

Answer: Manganese is extracted from ores that contain manganese minerals.

The most important manganese ores are pyrolusite (MnO2), psilomelane, manganite (MnO(OH)), and rhodochrosite (MnCO3).

There are several methods for extracting manganese from ores, including:

1.   Pyrometallurgical method: This method involves heating the ore to a high temperature in the presence of oxygen, which converts the manganese to its oxide form. The oxide is then reduced to the metal using a reducing agent, such as carbon.

2.   Hydrometallurgical method: This method involves leaching the manganese ore with an acidic or basic solution to dissolve the manganese. The solution is then filtered to remove impurities, and the manganese is precipitated out of the solution using a reducing agent.

3.   Electrolytic method: This method involves dissolving the manganese ore in an electrolyte solution and passing an electric current through the solution. The manganese is then extracted from the solution in the form of a pure metal.Overall, the extraction process for manganese typically involves the use of heat, chemicals, and electricity.

10.               What are the environmental impacts of manganese mining and how can they be mitigated?

Answer: Manganese is one of the leading mining pollutants. Exposure to manganese leads to several detrimental consequences. Manganese is a systemic toxicant and can damage the multiple organs of humans.

Mitigating the impacts

1.   Bioremediation: Using biological methods to degrade pollutants can help control manganese pollution.

2.   Reclamation, soil and water treatment: These methods can help mitigate the environmental impact of mining.

3.   Preventing acid rock drainage: Controlling gas emissions and preventing acid rock drainage can also help.

4.   Switching to cleaner energy sources: Using renewable energy sources like hydropower and solar power, or switching from coal and diesel to gasoline, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

5.   Maximizing mine efficiency: Conducting a life-cycle assessment to minimize environmental impacts and maximizing the efficiency of the mine can also 

11.                Describe the types of manganese ores found in India and their uses.

Answer: India's manganese ores include braunite, bixbyite, hausmannite, hollandite, jacobsite, vredenburgite, pyrolusite, cryptomelane, and psilomelane. The most commercially important manganese ores are pyrolusite (MnO2) and psilomelane.

Uses of manganese ore:

1.   Fertilizers and cattle feed: Manganous oxide is used as a micro-nutrient in fertilizers and cattle feed.

2.   Dry batteries: Manganese dioxide ore is used in the dry battery industry.

3.   Glass: Manganese is used as a catalyst to decolorize glass.

4.   Pesticides: Manganese sulfate is used to make fungicides and other pesticides.

12.                How does mining industry enhances the quality of life of society?

Answer: Minerals provide the components necessary to build essential infrastructure – transportation routes, homes, schools, hospitals, and other commercial and industrial facilities.

Moreover, wherever the mines are opened. People surrounding that particular area, usually get jobs in mines which in turn help to enhance their overall living standards,

13.                What are the major challenges faced by the mining industry in India?

Answer: Displacement and rehabilitation issues: Large scale displacement of local people leads to grievances and improper rehabilitation measures, thereby, leading to people’s alienation and develop distrust over the government machinery.

Environmental/Health issues: Environmental pollution has been caused by the Makrana marble mines in Rajasthan, the Granite mines of Karnataka have left a large hole on earth, Damodar river has been severely polluted by coal mining.Loss of biodiversity and local heritage due to mining activities.

Administrative issues: Arbitrary allocation of coal mines leads to the long litigation and eventually cancellation of allocations and charges of corruption in block allocations.Delay in environmental clearances due to bureaucratic hindrances.

14.                What is the difference between Brownfield Projects & Greenfield Projects?

Answer: A brownfield site is defined as any land that has previously been built on. E.g. Existing mine that is undergoing expansion.

A greenfield site sits at the opposite end of this spectrum, referring to land that has yet to be developed. E.g. Newly acquired land for opening mine.

15.                What percentage of India’s domestic manganese production does MOIL contribute?

Answer: More than 45% of India’s domestic Production of Mangsnese is contributed by MOIL.

16.                What are the industrial uses of manganese?

Answer:

1.   Steel production: Manganese is used to produce ferromanganese, which improves the strength, hardness, and stiffness of steel. It's also used as a deoxidizing and desulfurizing additive. Steel that contains 8–15% manganese can have a tensile strength of up to 863 MPa, and steel with 12% or more is used in applications that require toughness and wear resistance.

2.   Alloys: Manganese is used to make a variety of alloys, including ferromanganese, copper manganese, and aluminum alloys. Aluminum alloys that contain 1.5% manganese are used to make drink cans more resistant to corrosion.

3.   Other uses: Manganese is also used in the production of glass, textiles, bricks, fertilizers, bleaching powder, and insecticides. Manganese(IV) oxide is used as a catalyst, a rubber additive, and to decolorize glass that's been colored green by iron impurities.

17.                What are the uses of Manganese in our day to day lives?

Answer:

1. Batteries: Manganese is used in dry cell batteries and to create the cathode in lithium-ion batteries for electronics like laptops, phones, and electric vehicles.

2. Pigments: Manganese is used as a black-brown pigment in paint. Manganese dioxide was also used as a pigment in cave paintings by humans as early as 17,000 years ago.

3.  It is an essential trace element for living creatures.

18.                What is EMD and what are we doing about it?

Answer: MOIL has also set up a plant based on indigenous technology to manufacture 1,500 MT per annum capacity of Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide (EMD). This product is used for the manufacture of dry battery cells. EMD produced by the Company is of good quality and well accepted by the market.

19.                How are we transitioning to non-conventional energy resources?

Answer: To promote non-conventional energy resources, MOIL has installed 4.8 MW Wind Energy Farm at Nagda Hills and 15.2 MW Wind Farm at Ratedi Hills, Dist. Dewas in Madhya Pradesh.

20.                Total Resources of Manganese in India and what share of it does MOIL have?

Answer: Total resources of manganese ore in India is about 500 million tons, out of which MOIL having a share of only 20%