KARACHI, Nov 19: Bolan Mining Enterprises (BME) has signed a contract last week with DMT — Montan Consulting GmbH, Germany — for carrying out a feasibility study for enrichment (beneficiation) of Dilband iron ore.

The contract was signed by BME Resident Manager Shamim Akhtar, Managing Director PPL (BME’s operator) Munsif Raza and DMT’s Michael Loos on behalf of their respective organizations.

Enrichment of iron ore, being a complex process, will require the study to be carried out in several phases including the pilot plant scale leading to preparation of the feasibility report and detailed engineering for installation of beneficiation plant at Dilband to upgrade the total iron (TFe) content to 60 per cent plus from 40 per cent, says a press release of PPL.

Dilband iron ore deposit, estimated to be 167 million tons, is located at about 190 km south east of Quetta in District Mastung, Balochistan. An agreement has been signed between Pakistan Steel (PS) and BME for supply of 100,000 tons of fine iron ore to PS from Dilband in one year, starting from December 2003 for which a pilot ore crushing plant has started functioning at Dilband.