Zamin Group is a dynamic and forward-thinking company specialising in the exploration, development, mining and production of high grade iron ore. Operating on an international scale, Zamin Group has established itself as a leading expert in identifying and bringing promising mining projects to life.
Forging a Greener Tomorrow
High-Grade Iron Ore
Zero Carbon Vision
Zamin Groups history includes a portfolio of success stories that have navigated the complexities of the mining landscape, consistently delivering exceptional results to its partners and stakeholders. Their expertise encompasses every stage of the mining lifecycle, from initial exploration and geological surveys to mine development, production, and logistics.
TRANSFORMATIVE
IRON ORE VENTURES
Zamin has identified projects with the capacity and capability to produce high grade iron ore concentrate, supplying the steel industry and helping them achieve carbon neutrality goals as well as reducing carbon footprints across all their projects.
Zamin´s first major project, Bamin, started development in Bahia, Brazil, in 2006. Following four years of research, a bankable feasibility study was completed in January 2010, showing 2.4 billion tonnes of JORC-compliant resources and a planned production of 19.5 million tonnes of pellet feed. This was successfully sold to ENRC.
Zamin initiated and completed a bankable feasibility study for its second project in Uruguay. The project came to be known as Valentines and managed to prove resources in excess of 2.6b mt. Feasibility reports show Valentines could produce up to 36m mtpa of DRI grade iron ore concentrate (69% Fe) in 2 stages. This was going to be a flagship project and very valuable to steel mills across the globe to decarbonise by using such high-grade ore. The Valentines project is proceeding positively through an arbitration process in UNCITRAL.
ZAMIN SWEDEN
Scandinavian countries have been pioneers in green economic activities as the world looks with immense interest in the region’s strong hydropower grid, untapped wealth of resources, and advanced technologies.
Zamin is currently developing a major DRI project in Sweden:
Location: Kiruna hub, Sweden
Quantity: Basis of 72.000mtrs of drilling already executed a estimated resource is in excess of 600MT
Quality: Shall produce a 70% Fe ultra high grade DRI concentrate.
A SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPER
Zamin constantly invests in research to bring the best sustainable standards to all its projects.
The Kiruna region, with already existing sustainable energy supply and future wind power projects such as Käymävaara and Selkävaara, is highly suitable for sustainable development of mining operations, leaving a minimal carbon footprint.
Zamin is collaborating with business partners to achieve optimal solutions that leverage these renewable energy sources and innovative technologies, ensuring that our mining operations not only minimise their carbon footprint but also contribute positively to the local environment and community.
Through strategic partnerships and ongoing research, Zamin aims to pioneer sustainable mining practices that prioritise environmental stewardship and social responsibility, setting a new standard for the industry in the Kiruna region and beyond.
RESPONSIBILITY TO
SOCIETY &
STAKEHOLDERS
We are committed to operating responsibly and in partnership with the communities where we work. We want to be a long-term force for economic and environmental good. Zamin is laying down strong roots in all the countries in which it operates to build a foundation for future generations by establishing relationships with national and state governments through employment, infrastructure improvements, and enforcing it´s operation to abide by the highest environmental compliance standards.
Zamin is committed to operating according to the highest ethical standards, protecting the environment, mining safely and sustainably, and enhancing local communities’ wellbeing. Under these principles, Zamin is seeking to be a model for sustainable and responsible mining in the twenty first century.
HIGH GRADE IRON ORE
FUTURE OF STEEL
The demand for high-grade iron ore products for green steel and steel industry decarbonisation is on the rise, driven by regulatory, technological, and market forces. As the global steel industry continues its transition towards sustainability, Zamin with it’s focus on identifying and developing high-grade iron ore deposits is well-positioned to capitalise on the growing market opportunities and contribute to the advancement of green steel production.
According to recent Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) analyses, the shift towards green steel is accelerating, with significant investments directed towards low-carbon steelmaking technologies. Current projections indicate planned investments totalling billions of dollars in new green steel production globally over the next decade. This substantial commitment underscores the increasing importance of high-grade iron ore products, particularly for DRI production, in meeting the sustainability goals of the steel industry.
“Decarbonisation will support the emergence of new production, processing and trading hubs for low-carbon iron and steel.
Driven by the rising demand for green steel, the industry’s push for net zero is set to transform the value chain of a commodity essential to the industrialised world.
These new hubs will center on abundant, low-cost renewable electricity and competitive green hydrogen supply, both key to the production of green direct reduced iron (DRI), used as feedstock in steelmaking,”
Wood Mackenzie, 2023
MEET THE TEAM
Pramod Agarwal
Zamin is being led by Pramod Agarwal, who has been a key player in the iron ore industry. Mr. Agarwal had successfully completed DFS for Bamin Project in Brazil to produce 20 mtpa of iron ore concentrate. He then successfully completed DFS on one of the most important projects called Valentines in Uruguay to Produce up to 36 mtpa of DRI concentrate. It is very well understood and accepted that the steel industry has to move towards decarbonization, and major steel mills are racing to achieve zero carbon by 2050. Mr. Agarwal aims to make Zamin Sweden one of the world’s leading sustainable iron ore mines.
Tony Cau
30 years of experience in the mining, mineral processing, material handling and construction and heavy manufacturing industries. CTO of Zamin Ferrous (2012-2012). SVP and Managing Director of SNC Lavalin (2008-2010). VP of Project Delivery & Member of the Aluminum Executive Committee at BHP Billiton (2005-2008). In his role as Chief Technical Officer at Zamin Ferrous, Mr. Cau had the total business responsibility for Zamin Ferrous global, operating in Indonesia, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. He also led the Valentines Iron Ore study in Uruguay and the preparation of numerous due-diligence studies (US$3 Billion). As Managing Director of SNC-Lavalin, Australasia, was responsible for 5 offices and the strategic planning for the Mines and Metals Group. At BHP Billiton was part of the Executive Committee directing design, construction management, commissioning of various global projects.
Valadi K Lakshmanan
Valadi K. Lakshmanan is a distinguished metallurgist with a career spanning over four decades and on as many continents. He is a proud recipient of the National Metallurgist Award from the Govt. of India in 1987 VK has an impressive educational background with a B. Tech in Metallurgy from IIT Madras, an M. Eng from McMaster University, Canada, and advanced diplomas in technology & business management from prestigious institutions such as IIM Bangalore, MIT Sloan School, Boston, and CEDEP INSEAD, France. VK has held various key positions, starting with a Research Fellowship in Canada, His tenure at Tata Steel, Tata Korf, his leadership roles in Cargill North Star Steel/ Zamin Ferrous, Brazil, and at IFC, World Bank as their “Senior Global Specialist in Steel & Metals” highlight his expertise in process & quality control, technology development, and operational efficiency in the steel manufacturing sector.
VK has made significant contributions to both Indian & international steel industries with an innovative approach to iron & steel production, capacity expansion projects, developing new reduction smelting iron technology, etc.
Håkan Kingstedt
He is the Chairman of the Sweden-India Business Council and director of SME companies. Chairman LimeArc Process AB, Independent Director Útvyakta Solutions Pty. Advisor Graphmatec AB, former chairman of Movexum Swedish, a leading business incubator. He is also a frequent speaker at business forums, leadership classes, Chambers of Commerce forums, other company boards, and Solution Pacts as a coach for Managing Directors.
Mr. Kingstedt is a Technician/Engineer with vast experience in diverse areas, including Corporate Management, Manufacturing, Quality, Project management, and Human Resource Development in globalised markets. Entrepreneurship, Working with different cultures in operational and M&A processes. Working in complex matric structures. He was the President of Sandvik Asia Ltd, based in Pune, India. He brought Sandvik Asia Ltd. to an approximate turnover of 500 MUSD, including five production sites, four design/engineering centers, R&D, IT, sales, and service. Mr. Kingstedt spent a total of 7 years in India.
Previously, he was the Global Vice President of Human Resources at Sandvik Mining and Construction for six years in Sweden. He has also worked as Personnel Manager at Stora Kopparberg Sweden. Production Engineer, Stora Kopparberg Sweden.Quality manager, Stora Kopparberg Sweden. Former Vice Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce India and a former member of CII Western Regional Council. Strong profile in leadership, strategic analyses, and execution. Chairperson, a board member with experience from Asia and Europe.
Helga Irina Chulepin
She is a distinguished Uruguayan expert in sustainable development, with a strong focus on community relations and corporate social responsibility in the natural resources field. Her career has extensively covered mining engineering, project management, and roles in the UNESCO Global Geopark Program as a council member and evaluator since 2016. At Minera Aratiri S.A., she managed key aspects of the Valentines Iron Ore Project from 2007 to 2020, including permits, legal issues, and social program development, showcasing her versatile skills in navigating complex challenges within the mining sector.
Helga’s leadership extended to human resources and science communication, emphasising her ability to handle diverse aspects of project management and stakeholder engagement. Furthermore, her significant contributions to the UNESCO Global Geoparks, particularly as a technical coordinator for the Grutas del Palacio Global Geopark, underscore her dedication to promoting sustainability, local development, and heritage preservation on a global scale. Her work advancing global geopark initiatives and advisory roles reflects her worldwide influence in fostering sustainable development practices.
Jeff O’Leary
PhD, DIC, BSc (Hons), ARSM, FIMMM, CEng.
Jeff O’Leary has a BSc in mining geology and a PhD in geostatistics from Imperial College, London. Jeff has worked on many projects and mining operations world-wide. Between 1976 and 1984 he was employed by Rio Tinto plc., as Chief Mine Geologist and Geostatistician, where he was responsible for new mine feasibility studies, startups and operations world wide including all resource / reserve estimation and open pit mine planning.
He joined the HSBC Group in 1984. While working at HSBC, he was involved in the first debt/equity swap in the mining industry, which was used to finance the start-up of operations at Antofagasta Minerals, Los Pelambres copper mine in Chile. He was until his retirement director of the Mining & Metals team where he was involved in a wide variety of corporate transactions with clients in North & South America, Europe, Africa and the Far East. He has held a number of executive and non- executive positions on mining companies. More recently he has acted as Zamin’s representative on the development of two large iron ore projects in South America.