NLCIL's Strategic Goldmine: Mining Waste Goes Critical

NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR–Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI), Karaikudi, to jointly develop beneficiation and extraction technologies for critical and strategic minerals.

The agreement was formalised by IS Jasper Rose, Executive Director (Mines & Land), NLCIL, and K. Ramesha, Director, CSIR-CECRI, in the presence of NLCIL Chairman and Managing Director Prasanna Kumar Motupalli. Under this collaboration, both organisations will undertake detailed studies of overburden materials and mining tailings generated from NLCIL’s Neyveli operations to assess the feasibility of extracting rare earth elements (REEs) and other valuable trace minerals.

The partnership will also extend to evaluating similar opportunities across NLCIL’s other mining and exploration assets, with a focus on sustainable and economically viable recovery of resources from secondary sources. According to the company, the initiative aims to strengthen research in the field of critical minerals embedded in mining waste and improve resource efficiency.

The collaboration is expected to accelerate technological development in mineral processing, enhance India’s critical mineral security, and support the country’s broader objective of achieving self-reliance in strategic mineral supply chains through indigenous innovation and research.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.