NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute to collaborate on the beneficiation and extraction of critical and strategic minerals. The partnership aims to strengthen research and technology development in resource recovery, supporting India’s growing focus on critical mineral security and sustainable mining practices.
Partnership Focuses on Critical Mineral Extraction
The MoU was signed by IS Jasper Rose, Executive Director (Mines & Land), NLCIL, and K Ramesha, Director, CSIR-CECRI, in the presence of Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, Chairman and Managing Director, NLC India Ltd. Through this collaboration, both organisations will work together to develop innovative technologies for extracting and recovering valuable minerals from mining by-products and secondary resources. As part of the agreement, researchers will conduct detailed studies on overburden materials and mine tailings generated from NLCIL’s Neyveli mining operations. The primary objective is to evaluate the potential for extracting and recovering Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and other trace minerals that may be present in these materials. By unlocking the value of mining waste, the initiative seeks to create new opportunities for sustainable resource utilisation while reducing environmental impacts.
Expanding Resource Recovery Across Mining Projects
In addition to Neyveli, the collaboration will examine similar opportunities across NLCIL’s other mining and exploration projects. The partners aim to develop economically viable and environmentally sustainable technologies that can enable the recovery of critical minerals from secondary sources. Such efforts are expected to enhance resource efficiency while contributing to India’s long-term mineral security strategy.
Supporting India’s Critical Mineral Supply Chain
Motupalli emphasised that the partnership would strengthen research and development efforts related to the beneficiation and extraction of Rare Earth Elements and other critical minerals associated with overburden, tailings and other secondary resources. He noted that the initiative aligns with NLCIL’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and value creation from existing mining assets.
Driving Technological Innovation and Resource Security
Highlighting the significance of the collaboration, Ramesha stated that the strategic partnership is expected to generate meaningful research outcomes and technological advancements in the field of critical and strategic minerals. The initiative will support India’s efforts to achieve greater self-reliance in critical mineral supply chains while strengthening domestic capabilities in mineral processing, resource recovery and advanced extraction technologies.
Advancing Sustainable Mining and Circular Resource Utilisation
The NLCIL-CSIR-CECRI partnership represents an important step toward developing next-generation technologies for critical mineral recovery. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, by focusing on the extraction of valuable resources from mine waste and secondary materials, the collaboration supports sustainable mining practices, circular resource utilisation and India’s broader vision of securing critical minerals for future industrial and technological growth.
