Page 149 - CW E-Magazine (18-2-2025)

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ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES times. BASF said the decision to close tion materials, frequent write-offs and company. “The closure of the unit is
the TTD unit was taken as the techno- adverse performance”. expected by fi rst half of this year and
CCI absolves IREL (India) in ilmenite market probe logy was “not refl ective of current will lead to direct fi xed cost savings as
Indian market standards” due to issues During FY24, the unit contributed against the unit earnings loss, which is
The Competition Commission of India tising foreign buyers, and engaging in multiple times between 2015 and
(CCI) has ruled in favour of IREL (India) excessive pricing. These actions, according 2022, there was no clear evidence to like “low utilisation, high maintenance, revenues of Rs. 37.7-crore, represent- estimated to be minor,” the company
ing 0.3% of the total revenues of the said.
increased production of off-specifi ca-
Ltd. (earlier known as Indian Rare Earths to the complainant, violated Section 4 of support allegations of excessive pric-
Ltd.), dismissing allegations of abuse of the Competition Act, 2002, which pertains ing. The CCI noted that pricing deci- CHANGE OF PLANS
dominance in the mining and supply of to abuse of a dominant position. sions were infl uenced by international
beach sand ilmenite in India. The decision market trends and cost factors. Hindustan Zinc puts off demerger plans amid government
comes after an extensive investigation into Investigation fi ndings  Market access allegations: Claims that
the claims brought by the Beach Mineral The CCI directed the Director Gene- IREL denied market access to certain opposition and Vedanta split
Producers Association (BMPA). ral (DG) to investigate the matter, and the domestic buyers, including V.V. Tita-
fi ndings were submitted in May 2023. Key nium, were examined but not upheld, Vedanta-owned Hindustan Zinc Ltd., According to Mr. Misra, the “imme- Over the last few quarters, the com-
Background points from the investigation included: as the supply restrictions were linked the country’s leading producer of zinc diate priorities” include efforts on shor- pany has bid for critical mineral and other
The case originated from a com-  IREL’s market position: The DG to regulatory constraints rather than and silver, has put on hold its demerger ing up the company’s presence in critical mineral blocks in India, aiming to ramp
plaint fi led by the BMPA, which al- confi rmed that IREL held a dominant anti-competitive behaviour. plans, as per a report in the Hindu mineral mining that covers vanadium and up its presence in non-zinc mining acti-
leged that IREL, a Mini Ratna Cate- position in the market, controlling over BusinessLine. tungsten. Other precious metals in focus vities.
gory I Central Public Sector Undertaking 90% of India’s beach sand ilmenite Final ruling include gold and copper mining. This
(PSU), had engaged in anti-competitive supply by 2021-22. After reviewing the DG’s fi ndings, In reply to a question about the status apart, the demerger of parent Vedanta is Previously, Hindustan Zinc had pro-
practices. The association contended  Discriminatory supply practices: The the CCI concluded that IREL’s opera- of the demerger plans, Mr. Arun Misra, the priority. posed the setting up of three different

IREL was the sole producer and sup- investigation found no substantive evi- tions in ilmenite mining and sales were CEO and whole-time director of Hindu- entities covering zinc, lead and silver and
plier of beach sand ilmenite in India dence that IREL discriminated against commercial activities and fell under stan Zinc, said, “Every good idea needs The Centre, which has over 27% stake recycling operations, but the plan faced
following the government’s 2018 res- domestic buyers in favour of foreign the defi nition of an ‘enterprise’ as per to fi nd a right time. At present, there are in Hindustan Zinc, may consider a second objections from the Centre. Plans were
trictions on private sector involvement customers. Claims that IREL supplied the Competition Act. However, despite various priority areas such as strengthen- tranche of offer-for-sale soon, after which reworked to have two entities, which
in the mining of atomic minerals. more ilmenite to foreign buyers at the IREL’s dominant position, the CCI ing our presence in other metals, foray the demerger talks could be reconsidered. again faced resistance, citing that the
expense of Indian consumers were not found no conclusive evidence that the into critical minerals, demerger of parent In November 2024, the Centre offl oaded company was “profi table and performing
The complainant accused IREL of substantiated. company had abused its dominance Vedanta and so on.” 1.6% of its stake in the company. well as a single entity”.
imposing unfair trade conditions, restricting  Pricing analysis: While the DG found through unfair trade practices, discrimi-

supply to domestic consumers while priori- that IREL had increased Ilmenite prices natory supply, or excessive pricing. WASTEWATER TREATMENT
WABAG bags contracts in Bahrain and Saudi
BASF’s care chemicals business to shut turbo tube
VA Tech Wabag, a leading player in Salman Sewage Treatment Plant since The contract involves the Engi-
dryer unit at Dahej site the water technology space, has secured November 2018. neering, Procurement, and Construc-
a seven-year operations and mainte- tion (EPC) of a 200-mld Independent
BASF has announced that its Care nance (O&M) contract worth $14-mn “This order win is a testament to Sewage Treatment Plant (ISTP), along
Chemicals business under its Nutri- (about Rs. 121-crore) from BAPCO our technological excellence and our with connections to outfall delivery
tion & Care Segment will close its Refi ning B.S.C. The contract covers unwavering commitment to delivering facilities.
turbo tube dryer (TTD) unit at its the Industrial Wastewater Treatment world-class water solutions to the oil
Dahej (Gujarat) site. The closure was Plant (IWTP) at the BAPCO Refi nery and gas sector globally,” Mr. Srinivasan The ISTP is being developed by
approved by the company’s board at a in the Kingdom of Bahrain, according K., General Manager – Middle East a consortium comprising Miahona
meeting held on 4th February. to a statement. Regional Headquarters (RHQ) at Company (lead), Marafi q, and N.V.
Wabag, said. Besix S.A. for its off-taker, the Saudi
TTDs are drying machines used The IWTP can treat 4,400 gallons Water Partnership Company (SWPC),
across industries like personal care and of wastewater per minute using Mem- Sewage treatment plant in Saudi Arabia which serves as the primary off-taker
pharmaceuticals for drying heat-sen- brane Bioreactor (MBR) technology. In another development, the com- for water and wastewater projects in
sitive substances like powders, gran- This ensures the water meets strict pany announced a major consortium Saudi Arabia, according to a state-
ules, pastes, and liquids. They utilise a environmental and industrial standards. order worth $371-mn (approximately ment. This ISTP is part of the King-
rotating tube to dry materials quickly With this new contract, Wabag strengthens Rs. 3,251-crore) in Saudi Arabia from dom’s ‘Vision 2030’, which aims to
and gently, offering precise tempe- its presence in Bahrain, where it has Al Haer Environmental Services provide reliable sewage treatment
rature control and short processing been managing the 40-mld Madinat Company. services.

148 Chemical Weekly February 18, 2025 Chemical Weekly February 18, 2025 149

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