Hindustan Gold Private Limited (www.hindustangold.com), pioneers in introducing India’s first merchant hydrometallurgical gold production plant, is currently working on bringing up India’s First state-of-the-art Pressure Oxidation (POX) Plant in Gujarat which is expected to redefine the country’s mining and gold-refining sector by opening up the country’s capability in processing complex refractory sulphide-gold ore concentrates. Sulphide-gold concentrates commonly contain pyrite and arsenopyrite which encapsulate gold particles.

These sulfide minerals are generally resistant to conventional gold extraction methods such as cyanidation. Such ores are known as refractory gold ores.

Pressure oxidation (POX) is a hydrometallurgical process used to extract gold from refractory gold concentrates. The process involves subjecting the gold concentrate to elevated temperatures (roughly 230 degrees Celsius), and pressures (roughly 35 bar or 510 psi) in the presence of oxygen and acidic conditions. The Photo of Amrusk POX Hub, Russia. A similar plant will be built by Hindustan Gold Pvt Ltd.

Primary objective of pressure oxidation is to break down the sulfide minerals when gold particles are released making them accessible for subsequent extraction. The major benefits of POX process are the ability to quickly separate gold, copper, and other metals from

refractory ores, achieve higher recoveries, and reduce environmental pollution.

The Pressure Oxidation (POX) Plant envisages an investment of around 483 MUSD (~INR 4000 Crore). The company has initiated discussions with consultants to conduct a comprehensive scoping study. The study aims to meticulously evaluate the feasibility and potential of the proposed POX Plant.

In a statement regarding the company’s ground-breaking initiative, Mr. Vikas Garg, Director of Hindustan Gold, expressed his confidence in the project’s transformative potential. Mr. Garg remarked, “The proposed POX Plant in Gujarat represents a watershed moment for Hindustan Gold and the Indian non-ferrous precious metals sector at large. Our endeavour aims not only to revolutionize gold production through innovative technology but also to firmly establish India’s presence as a frontrunner in the global market. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of possibility and delivering excellence in every aspect of this pioneering project”. The project will be at par with some of the big projects around the world like Petropavlovsk Pokrovskiy POX Hub in Russia, Mazedaki in Turkey and the Mansourah-Massarah Gold Project in Saudi Arabia which is under development.

Mr. Vikas Garg, Director of Hindustan Gold, further said “we are engaged in talks with a leading Canadian mine and other Latin American (LATAM) mines. The intention behind these discussions is to process the raw material obtained from these mines within the envisaged POX Plant in India. Moreover, we are exploring the prospect of forging an exclusive joint venture with the Canadian mine, emphasizing a long-term commitment to maximizing the potential of the project’s Life of Mine (LOM)”. Mr. Garg further said that the project will require 3-4 years of dedicated effort for its

completion.

Globally, there are limited number of gold POX plants due to its complexity involving high technological expertise apart from huge capital and long gestation period needed to build such plants. If the Hindustan Gold succeeds in establishing a Merchant POX Plant, it would not only mark a milestone for the country but also firmly place the Company on the global map of pioneers in gold production through a modern improvised version of the POX technology. Presently, India produces only about 2 percent of its annual gold consumption from its own gold mines apart from copper concentrates imported as well as produced from indigenous copper mines. In comparison, China produces 40 percent of global gold production. An initiative such as the proposed POX Plant in Gujarat by Hindustan Gold Private Limited is seen as the first critical step towards making India a significant producer of gold before 2030.