Faiza Tehseen

Fluorite processing units need to be established in Pakistan to help cut import costs of value-added fluorite.

“Pakistan holds significant potential for fluorite production and its value-added products. Rather than establishing indigenous value-addition units, the country exports raw fluorite to different countries. Such exports lead to the missed economic opportunities that could be realised through proper beneficiation and advanced refining processes,” says Abdul Bashir, chief geologist with a Balochistan-based mining company, Koh-e-Daleel Minerals Private Limited.

Talking to WealthPK, he said that the growing demand for fluorite in both local and international markets requires a focus on local value-addition. “Local fluorite processing will ensure sustainable industrial growth by cutting production costs,” he said, adding that fluorite reserves in Pakistan were found in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces. Bashir said: “Fluorite is a crucial mineral extensively used in metallurgy, ceramics, chemical industries, steel production, cement manufacturing, as a flux, and producing hydrofluoric acid.

Despite the immense potential in fluorite extraction and processing, mining outcrop and profit earning is far less. Inadequate infrastructure, insufficient policies to encourage the downstream industries, and lack of investment in research and development are hindering this segment of the country’s mineral sector.”

Explaining fluorite value-addition, he said that it involves beneficiation, refining, and conversion into high-grade products. “Establishing fluorite processing facilities in Pakistan will help create a new job market in mining, refining, technical expertise, research and development,” he noted. He said that higher revenues can also be generated through processed fluorite derivatives, including highly purified fluorite concentrates and hydrofluoric acid.

“Refining the local fluorite rather than importing processed variants will help reduce the production cost.” Bashir said: “Pakistan can remove the hurdles to fluorite extraction and processing through strategic interventions. Policy support in the form of tax incentives, investment in mineral processing plants, and collaboration with international research institutes can help develop a competitive fluorite industry locally.

Moreover, technology transfer initiatives and public-private partnerships can be of great help.”  “To capitalise on its natural fluorite sources, Pakistan must prioritise indigenous value-addition through investing in mining technologies, launching industry-specific training programmes, and processing facilities. Strengthening linkages between mining companies and end-user industrial units will also strengthen local supply chains, reducing import dependency,” the geologist noted.

Talking to WealthPK, Imran Babar, a miner and geologist, said: “Fluorite is a profit-oriented mineral, and its economic benefits increase with proper value-addition. Unfortunately, its local processing has never been focused. Mining sector investors are also unaware of this segment’s true potential.” He said that Balochistan is rich in fluorite reserves. “Encouraging miners to sell it after proper value-addition will make it a sustainable industrial segment.” Babar said government support in setting up processing units can help position Pakistan prominently in the global fluorite market.

Credit: INP-WealthPk