Magnesium holds the key for the success of the national programmes for titanium and zirconium extraction, and,next generation Mg-alloys for the automotive sector. CSIR-NML's contribution to Mg technology development goes back to 1971, when a 250 tonnes per annum pilot plant based on the Pigeon process was commissioned. The plant and technology were subsequently transferred to an industry, M/s Southern Magnesium Ltd who was the only commercial producer of Mg in India until 2002.CSIR-NML, has developed a novel magnesium extraction technology (Magnetherm process) which employs moderate vacuum and involves direct heating. The technology was developedon a 300 kg pilot scale using an indigenously fabricated reactor. Based on largenumber of pilot plant trials, design and operational data have been generated for further scale up to 1000 kg reactor... In the strategic sector, specific focus of the Laboratory is on extraction and processing of metals, namely tungsten, sodium and gadolinium...