Financial Times

Ceramics: Abundant raw material but lacking in techniques
By Lashica Abeywickrama
Ceramic is one of the industries in Sri Lanka where suppliers and manufacturers are confronted with issues relating to sufficient raw material.
Ceramic raw materials are mineral or rock accumulations from which ceramic products are manufactured, either in their natural state or through mixing. These may also be divided in accordance with their mineral or chemical composition or according to their origin.

According to a presentation made by Dr Alberto Silva, who is also a ceramics expert from Portugal, the ceramic products exclusively or mainly depend on clay-mineral-containing natural raw materials. Availability and quality of raw materials have an important impact on the competitiveness of the national ceramics industry. As far as Sri Lanka is concerned the key raw material used in the industry namely clay, kaolin and feldspars are found in areas like Boralesgamuwa, Meetiyagoda and Dankotuwa.

The cost of mining tends to be higher in Sri Lanka – than other countries - due to inadequate investment, less state support, lack of exploration and research, labour issues, strict legislation and not adopting the latest techniques in mining.

Sri Lankan clay mines are insufficiently explored. As most of the mining is done with inadequate research, the mining owners are reluctant in making investments in mining and in the required equipment. Extraction techniques in the industry here is insufficient due to inadequate state support whereas in Europe the owner of a mine is under obligation to the government to ensure that the area around mining is protected, Dr Silva said at the workshop on ceramics.

The insufficient blending of raw material is considered as a main shortcoming in Sri Lanka with blending taking place on a lesser degree or not at all. Thus the current practice doesn’t create a suitable blending to meet the required quality. Proper raw material is sold at a premium price across the world and Sri Lanka is lacking in this area.

In Sri Lanka mines, key equipment and associated know how and practice of blending are absent. In the international market, international firms are now converting into tailor made blending. The absence of quality control is another issue that we face and especially in hard material mining this leads to an excessive variation in quality.

Our raw material reserves are generally comparable with what the competing countries have. Yet the prices seem to be low very often in comparison to the competition. Countries like China and many in Europe are achieving higher economics of scale in production with the use of their new technologies.

Most of the industry requirements of raw materials are being supplied by local parties. Still some high quality raw material is imported in small quantities mainly for tableware production.

In obtaining sufficient operation in mining and blending, adequate equipment and related systems are necessary. As an alternative, buying in large quantities of materials could be effective. But yet the need for small and medium scale industrialists is government support in areas like financial assistance for exploration and prospecting programmes and other infrastructure.

Joint ventures will be another option for the betterment of the industry which would add more efficiency. This could be done through sponsoring research, offering financial assistance and bringing in new technology.

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