The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) announced plans to establish a rare earth elements (REE) processing plant in collaboration with the Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC). The initiative marks a strategic move to extract value from mining by-products while advancing India’s rare earth capabilities.
Pilot Project to Focus on Waste-Derived Rare Earths
SCCL and NFTDC will set up a pilot plant in Kothagudem that will extract rare earth elements from overburden, fly ash, and other waste materials from SCCL’s coal mining and thermal power operations. Their early research has already detected traces of rare earths in these by-products, paving the way for further exploration.
Assessing Commercial Viability
The scale of the plant will be determined based on the concentration and economic feasibility of the extracted rare earth elements. The pilot project aims to assess commercial potential before expanding operations to larger production levels.
Partnership Formalised
As reported by projectstoday.com, officials from SCCL and NFTDC formalised the collaboration through an agreement signed on 23 October 2025, reinforcing both organisations’ commitment to sustainable innovation and resource optimisation.
