MIDHANI signs MoU with HWB, BARC to recover nickel and cobalt from plant reverts

New Delhi: Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), a defence public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Heavy Water Board (HWB) and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to develop processes for recovering nickel and cobalt from plant reverts.

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The MoU has been signed on Tuesday, bringing together MIDHANI's industrial capabilities and the technological expertise of the two Department of Atomic Energy organisations to explore efficient and sustainable metal recovery processes.

The collaboration aims to improve resource utilisation, reduce dependence on primary mineral resources and recover valuable metals from manufacturing residues. The initiative is also expected to support domestic supply chains for critical metals and promote recycling and circular-economy practices.

Nickel and cobalt are key raw materials used in advanced batteries, electric vehicles, stainless steel, superalloys and other strategic industrial applications. Recovering these metals from plant reverts could help unlock value from secondary resources and strengthen their availability for India's industrial and clean-energy sectors.

Commenting on the agreement, S. V. S. Narayana Murty, Chairman and Managing Director of MIDHANI, said the collaboration marked an important milestone in the company's efforts to recover critical metals from secondary resources. He added that the three organisations would work towards developing viable, sustainable and commercially competitive solutions for nickel and cobalt recovery.

The MoU has been signed by Murty; V. V. S. A. Prasad, Chairman and Chief Executive of HWB; and Alok Awasthi, Associate Director, Materials Group, BARC.

K. Madhubala, Director (Finance) at MIDHANI, and Sandeep Wadhwa, Executive Director of HWB, also attended the event.

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The three organisations expect the collaboration to create opportunities in metal recovery and recycling while contributing to the long-term availability of critical raw materials for India's strategic industries and clean-energy transition.

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