New Delhi: State-owned NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute to collaborate on the beneficiation and extraction of critical and strategic minerals, strengthening India's efforts to secure critical mineral resources and support the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission.
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The MoU has been signed on June 10 at Neyveli by NLCIL Executive Director (Mines & Land) I.S. Jasper Rose and CSIR-CECRI Director K. Ramesha in the presence of senior officials from both organisations, including NLCIL Chairman and Managing Director Prasanna Kumar Motupalli.
The collaboration aims to promote research and technology development for the recovery of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and other critical minerals from secondary resources such as mine overburden, tailings, lignite and coal-related waste materials. The initiative is aligned with the Government of India's broader strategy to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
NLC India has been actively exploring opportunities in the critical minerals sector through both primary and secondary sources. The company's CMD is also a member of a committee constituted by NITI Aayog to examine the recovery potential of critical and strategic minerals from secondary resources, including mine waste, overburden and tailings. NLCIL has already undertaken studies to assess the occurrence and recovery potential of REEs and other trace elements from such materials.
Under the MoU, the two organisations will carry out detailed studies on overburden materials and tailings generated from NLCIL's Neyveli mines to evaluate the feasibility of extracting Rare Earth Elements and other valuable trace minerals. The partnership will also explore similar opportunities across NLCIL's other mining and exploration projects with the objective of developing sustainable and commercially viable resource recovery technologies.
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Speaking on the occasion, Motupalli said the collaboration would strengthen research efforts in the beneficiation and extraction of REEs and other critical minerals associated with overburden, tailings and secondary resources. He noted that the partnership would help develop innovative technologies to unlock the value of these resources while supporting the goals of the National Critical Mineral Mission and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
CSIR-CECRI Director K. Ramesha said the partnership brings together two institutions with over seven decades of service to the nation and a strong presence in Tamil Nadu. He expressed confidence that the collaboration would lead to significant technological advancements in critical and strategic minerals, contributing to India's resource security and self-reliance in critical mineral supply chains.
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