Hindustan Copper Limited and NTPC Mining Limited have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop copper and other critical minerals. The partnership establishes a framework for both companies to explore, mine, and process strategic mineral resources, enhancing India’s capabilities in the global minerals market.

Joint Exploration and Investment Opportunities

Under the agreement, HCL and NML will participate together in auctions for copper and critical mineral blocks. They will also evaluate joint investment opportunities in HCL’s existing assets, as well as potential new projects in India and internationally. The collaborative approach aims to streamline mineral exploration, development, and processing, ensuring efficient utilization of resources and maximizing economic value.

Strengthening India’s Mining Sector

By joining forces, Hindustan Copper and NML are positioning themselves to capitalize on the growing demand for copper and critical minerals worldwide. The partnership sets a strong foundation for future-focused mining initiatives, signaling a significant step toward strengthening India’s mining sector and supporting the nation’s strategic resource goals.

Looking Ahead: Global and Domestic Impact

As reported by projectstoday.com, the MoU enables both companies to leverage their expertise and resources to explore high-potential projects domestically and abroad. This collaboration not only enhances India’s self-reliance in critical minerals but also contributes to sustainable growth and global competitiveness in the mining industry.

ReNew Photovoltaics, a subsidiary of ReNew Energy Global PLC, will set up a greenfield 6 GW Solar Ingot–Wafer Manufacturing plant at Rambilli in Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh, with an investment of ₹3,990 crore. This will be India’s first commercial-scale integrated ingot-wafer unit, producing the core building blocks for solar cells and modules.

Project Approval and Government Support

The Andhra Pradesh State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB), chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, approved the investment proposal. The state Cabinet will next review the project for final approval. ReNew signed the MoU for the facility during a partnership summit in Visakhapatnam last month. The Government of India’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for solar manufacturing also supports the project, underscoring its strategic importance for the country’s renewable energy goals.

Reducing Dependence on Imports

The new facility aims to reduce India’s reliance on imported solar components, particularly from China, and strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities. It aligns with India’s ambitious goal of achieving 300 GW of solar capacity by 2030, boosting the nation’s energy security and self-reliance.

World-Class Facility with Robust Infrastructure

Employment and Regional Development

Once operational, the plant will create around 1,200 high-skilled and semi-skilled jobs, contributing to local economic development. The project positions Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam as emerging hubs for solar and clean-energy technology in India.

Renewable Energy Destination

Suzlon Group announced plans to establish three new smart wind-turbine blade factories, marking a major leap in its manufacturing capabilities. Two factories will be located in Gujarat and Karnataka, while the third site is yet to be finalised. Positioned close to wind-project deployment areas, the new plants aim to reduce logistics time, streamline transport, and accelerate delivery schedules. With about 6.2 GW of orders already secured, Suzlon is strategically timing this expansion to meet India’s rising wind-energy demand.

Smart, Digitalized, and AI-Enabled Production

*Automation and robotics for critical tasks

*IoT-MES-ERP convergence to streamline operations

*AI-driven vision systems for real-time defect detection

*Digital workflows for enhanced efficiency

These technologies aim to boost productivity, ensure consistent quality, strengthen workplace safety, and enable lean, agile production from day one.

Extending Smart Manufacturing Across Existing Units

Beyond the three new factories, Suzlon intends to upgrade its existing manufacturing units nationwide with similar smart-factory capabilities. This aligns with the company’s broader strategy to integrate intelligent operations, optimize supply chains, and establish a scalable, robust base for wind-turbine production.

A Major Shift for India’s Wind-Energy Sector

As reported by manufacturingtodayindia.com, the development signals a clear shift towards smarter, faster, and more efficient wind-component manufacturing. Suzlon embraces advanced digital and AI-enabled production methods to reshape supply dynamics and strengthen India’s wind-energy ecosystem as demand rapidly scales.

US-based firm Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) achieved a milestone at the Idaho National Laboratory by reaching a 45 GigaWatt-days per Metric Ton of Uranium (GWd/MTU) burn-up with its thorium-based fuel. This first-of-its-kind development could redefine nuclear energy, traditionally dependent on uranium, and carries significant implications for India, which has limited uranium reserves but holds the world’s largest thorium resources. India currently imports uranium to meet nuclear energy requirements and targets 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.

Thorium Fuel ANEEL: High Burn-Up and Efficiency

CCTE’s patented ANEEL fuel (Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life) combines thorium with High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) to provide a safer, more efficient, and
proliferation-resistant alternative for PHWR and CANDU reactors. High burn-up levels, like the 45 GWd/MTU achieved, indicate maximum energy extraction per irradiation cycle, and surpass conventional fuel performance by six to seven times. Current Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) and CANDU reactors, which typically use natural uranium, cannot match this efficiency.

Thorium’s Role in India’s Energy Security

Thorium (Th-232) cannot directly sustain a nuclear chain reaction but transforms into fissile Uranium-233 inside a reactor. Each fission cycle releases large amounts of energy, creating a sustainable chain reaction. Indian nuclear physicist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar highlighted, “Reaching around 45 GWd per ton burn-up in ANEEL fuel assures a viable PHWR fuel that can bring thorium molten salt small modular reactors (SMR) into reality sooner than expected.”

Opportunities for Molten Salt Reactors and Self-Sustaining Fuel

Molten salt reactors (MSRs) use molten salts as coolant, storing heat at atmospheric pressure and reducing the risk of core meltdown. While India currently lacks MSR construction facilities, integrating HALEU-thorium fuel in heavy-water reactors could:

*Breed Uranium-233 for future molten salt reactors

*Improve the economics of PHWRs

*Enable self-sustaining thorium-based nuclear energy

Kakodkar noted, “This approach lowers energy costs and strengthens India’s energy security while preparing for a transition to thorium reactors.”

Strategic and Economic Implications for India

By leveraging thorium reserves and HALEU technology, India could:

*Reduce dependence on imported uranium

*Strengthen national energy security

*Become a global supplier of heavy-water reactors and thorium fuel

*Create economic opportunities akin to OPEC’s role in global oil markets

This shift would not only meet domestic energy needs but also position India as a key player in global nuclear energy markets, while minimizing proliferation risks.

Path Forward: Thorium for Net-Zero and Energy Independence

The US breakthrough demonstrates that high burn-up thorium fuel is economically viable and technically feasible. For India, adopting HALEU-thorium in PHWRs offers:

*Cost-effective nuclear energy

*Opportunities for domestic manufacturing

*Enhanced climate security

*Export potential for global energy markets

As reported by msn.com, Kakodkar concludes, “This is a very large opportunity for India’s energy security, economic gains, and global climate leadership.”

The Department of Science and Technology (DST), government of India, launched the country’s first dedicated R&D Roadmap for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)—a major step forward in India’s strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. The roadmap was formally unveiled by Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India.

A Game-Changing Strategy for Deep Decarbonization

India’s new CCUS roadmap is being hailed as a game-changer, as it outlines a coordinated strategy to accelerate research, enable technology deployment, and strengthen regulatory frameworks. It also aims to attract investments to scale up CCUS across India’s heavy industries.

CCUS technologies capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from high-emission sectors such as coal power plants, steel mills, and cement factories, and either store the CO₂ underground or repurpose it for industrial applications. By doing so, CCUS prevents CO₂ from entering the atmosphere and offers one of the most viable pathways for deep decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors.

Why CCUS Matters for India’s Net-Zero Pathway

India’s industrial backbone relies heavily on coal, cement, steel, and other energy-intensive sectors. While clean-energy transitions are progressing, many industries cannot fully decarbonize without CCUS. This becomes even more critical as India works toward achieving its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—including reducing emission intensity by 45% by 2030 and reaching full net-zero by 2070.

The new roadmap, titled “R&D Roadmap to Enable India’s Net Zero Targets through CCUS,” draws on nearly seven years of prior research, pilot studies, and recommendations from a High-Level Task Force (HTF). It consolidates these learnings into a national strategy focused on implementation and scale.

Balancing Commercial Readiness and Breakthrough Innovation

A key strength of the roadmap is its balanced approach. It aims to:

*Advance existing CCUS technologies toward commercial adoption in real industrial settings.

*Support breakthrough innovations for next-generation CCUS solutions that can sustainably meet long-term decarbonization needs.

By doing so, the roadmap ensures that India progresses on both near-term deployment and long-term technological leadership.

Industrial Test Beds to Drive Large-Scale Deployment

To demonstrate CCUS technologies in real-world conditions, the roadmap proposes establishing CCUS test beds across sectors such as:

*Power generation

*Steel manufacturing

*Cement production

These test beds, driven by public–private partnership (PPP) models, will validate technologies, address operational challenges, and build industrial confidence. This approach is expected to significantly accelerate India’s shift toward commercial-scale CCUS adoption.

Enabling Frameworks for Successful Implementation

Beyond technology development, the roadmap emphasizes the need to build strong enabling frameworks. It prioritizes:

1. Human Capital Development

Training skilled professionals for CCUS research, operations, maintenance, and safety procedures.

2. Regulatory and Safety Standards

Developing clear guidelines for CO₂ capture, transport, storage, monitoring, and long-term liability.

3. Shared Infrastructure Development

Creating early common infrastructure—such as CO₂ transport pipelines and storage systems—to lower adoption barriers for industry.

These components ensure that India develops a robust ecosystem capable of supporting long-term CCUS deployment.

A Strong National Signal to Industry and Investors

With this roadmap, DST signals that CCUS is now a central pillar of India’s decarbonization strategy. This institutional prioritization is expected to unlock fresh investments, foster industry partnerships, and shorten the timelines for full-scale deployment. For sectors like cement and steel—where CO₂ is emitted during chemical processes and cannot be reduced through fuel-switching alone—CCUS becomes indispensable. Studies show that CCUS will play a dominant role in helping the cement sector reach net-zero by 2070.

Looking Ahead: The Scale of India’s CCUS Opportunity

Assessments suggest that India must capture hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO₂ per year by mid-century for CCUS to significantly contribute to the nation’s net-zero ambitions. As reported by indianmasterminds.com, the newly launched roadmap lays the foundation for achieving this scale by aligning R&D, industry participation, and infrastructure development.

The national policy on biofuels continues to promote the production and use of multiple biofuels, including biodiesel. To accelerate adoption, the government has introduced several supportive measures. These include setting indicative biodiesel blending targets, permitting direct biodiesel sales, and issuing the “Guidelines for Sale of Biodiesel for Blending with High-Speed Diesel for Transportation Purposes – 2019.” Additionally, reducing the GST rate on biodiesel procurement from 12% to 5% has further encouraged participation in the national blending programme.

Creating New Opportunities for Farmers

Through the Biodiesel Blending Programme, the policy opens new income opportunities for farmers by boosting demand for indigenous feedstock. Tree-Borne Oils (TBOs) such as Karanja, Neem, Mahua, and Pongamia can be cultivated on wastelands and require minimal inputs. These hardy crops thrive even in drought-prone areas, enabling farmers to make productive use of underutilised land.

Supporting Rural Livelihoods and Local Economies

Beyond cultivation, the policy promotes employment and rural economic activity by encouraging plantation, seed collection, and oil extraction. These activities help expand the rural value chain, creating sustainable job opportunities and generating additional revenue streams.

Powering Value Addition and Income Diversification

As reported by publicnow.com, India’s growing biodiesel ecosystem adds value to waste materials and low-value agricultural by-products. As a result, farmers can diversify their income sources and reduce dependence on single-crop earnings. This diversification not only strengthens rural resilience but also supports long-term livelihood stability.

Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) has been granted Navratna status. It was announced by union minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri. With this upgrade, NRL becomes the 27th Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) to receive the coveted designation.

Recognition for Strong Performance and Growth

Puri said, “This recognises NRL’s strong performance and ambitious growth path—from the ongoing NREP refinery expansion to the recently inaugurated ABEPL bamboo-based 2G bioethanol plant that is driving energy security and green growth from Assam and the Northeast.” The Navratna status reflects the company’s consistent operational excellence and its growing contribution to India’s cleaner and more secure energy landscape.

A Key Refinery Powering the Northeast

NRL operates a three million metric tons per annum (MMTPA) petroleum refinery located at Numaligarh in Assam’s Golaghat district. The refinery plays a vital role in meeting the energy needs of the Northeast while also supporting regional economic development.

Strong Promoter Backing

The Energy Efficiency Movement (EEM) forum held in Pune highlighted the growing importance of innovative technologies in driving sustainable manufacturing. Global industry leaders, policymakers, technologists, and academia came together to share insights on how India can accelerate its journey toward Net Zero. The event, focused on pioneering energy efficiency, was organised by Alfa Laval in collaboration with the Swedish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India.

A Global Movement for Energy Efficiency

Alfa Laval is one of the founding members of the Energy Efficiency Movement—a global not-for-profit association with 640 member companies representing 29 industries across 49 countries. In India alone, EEM has 140 members, underscoring the country’s strong interest in energy-efficient technologies.

Research and Industry Collaboration for Breakthrough Innovation

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Ashish Lele, Director, CSIR–National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), highlighted the need for breakthrough process technologies and advanced materials. He said, “Public research institutions like CSIR-NCL play a vital role by partnering with industry. I applaud Alfa Laval for creating a platform that fosters collaboration for a Net Zero future.”

Call to Action: Implement Energy Efficiency at Scale

Mike Umiker, Managing Director, Energy Efficiency Movement, outlined India’s unique opportunity to lead the world in green molecules and industrial decarbonization. Urging stakeholders to accelerate action, he said, “Let’s not wait for the perfect moment. Let’s make this the moment. Let’s implement energy efficiency at scale to accelerate India’s energy transition while maintaining competitiveness and keeping the path to India’s Net Zero.”

Sweden–India Collaboration in Sustainability

Sven Östberg, Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai, emphasised the strong sustainability partnership between India and Sweden and the importance of cross-border cooperation in accelerating climate progress.

Government Perspectives on India’s Net-Zero Strategy

Ruchika Drall, Deputy Secretary, Climate Change, MoEFCC, shared insights on India’s national strategy to achieve Net Zero. Adding a state-level perspective, Abhijit Ghorpade, Director, State Climate Action Cell, Government of Maharashtra, discussed strategies for energy efficiency and decarbonization across sectors.

Thermal Energy Efficiency: A Key to Industrial Decarbonization

Thomas Muller, Executive Vice President, Energy Division, Alfa Laval, stressed the critical role of thermal energy efficiency in reducing industrial emissions. He said, “Alfa Laval is leading the energy transition by providing heat transfer solutions that unlock the full potential of energy efficiency. With nearly a century of expertise, we are helping industries save energy and cut emissions.”

Co-Creating Solutions for India’s Net-Zero Goal

Subhasis Das, Managing Director, Alfa Laval India, emphasised that “energy efficiency is the first fuel” and one of India’s most powerful levers to reach Net Zero by 2070.
He encouraged industries to collaborate and co-create solutions through the Energy Efficiency Movement.

Panel Discussions Spotlight Actionable Pathways to Net Zero

Panel 1: Energy Efficiency—The Future of Industries

The first panel explored actionable strategies to accelerate India’s Net Zero ambitions from an industry-centric perspective. Experts discussed breakthroughs in electrification, thermal optimization, and emerging technologies. They also addressed barriers to adoption and highlighted the importance of collaborative models.

Panel 2: Energy Efficiency Today, Sustainability Tomorrow

The second panel focused on practical steps industries can take today to create long-term impact. Panelists examined innovations in green hydrogen, heat transfer, and integrated energy systems. They also discussed the role of industry-academia partnerships, technology readiness, and policy enablers in scaling decarbonization.

Alfa Nova GL50 Heat Exchanger

The summit also marked the launch of Alfa Nova GL50, an advanced, patented gas-to-liquid heat exchanger made entirely of stainless steel. Built using Alfa Laval’s fusion-bonding technology, the GL50 is designed to significantly improve energy efficiency across key sectors such as:

*Green hydrogen electrolysers

*Fuel cells

*Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems

*Cogeneration units

*Condensate recovery systems

*High Performance and Energy Savings

The Alfa Nova GL50 offers superior condensing capacity, low pressure drop, and maximum heat transfer efficiency within a compact footprint. As per the press release, the advantages help industries reduce energy consumption, recover waste heat, and improve operational efficiency. These benefits are crucial for sustainable manufacturing and economic competitiveness.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Fortune Global 500 company and Maharatna PSU, has been recognised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge as one of the Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars (CSS) worldwide. Notably, this prestigious global list features BPCL as the only Indian organisation, celebrating corporates that champion innovation and startup collaboration.

Honoured at ICC Headquarters in Paris

The Corporate Startup Stars Awards 2025 ceremony announced the recognition. ICC hosted the event at its headquarters in Paris. The awards recognised 100 top companies from the Forbes Global 2000 and Fortune Global 500. These companies were honoured for their strong commitment to open innovation, startup engagement, and ecosystem development.

BPCL’s Commitment to Open Innovation

Sanjay Khanna, Chairman and Managing Director of BPCL, expressed, “We are honoured to be recognised among the 2025 Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars. This global accolade reflects BPCL’s commitment to building an open innovation ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurship. Through our startup initiative ‘Ankur’, we are catalysing breakthrough solutions that make energy cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable.”

As BPCL celebrates its 50th year, the company continues to strengthen its vision of becoming an integrated energy provider of the future. The CMD reiterated that collaborations with startups will play a vital role in advancing technologies that support India’s energy transition.

Accelerating Startup Growth Through Project Ankur

Launched in 2016, BPCL’s innovation platform ‘Ankur’ has supported 30 startups. These startups develop solutions in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Industrial IoT, Inspection Technologies, Predictive Maintenance, Safety Technologies, and other emerging fields. To further strengthen these efforts, BPCL introduced the BPCL Ankur Fund. The fund invests in promising early-stage startups aligned with the company’s long-term strategy and technology roadmap.

Voices from the Global Innovation Community

John W H Denton AO, Secretary General of ICC, said, “Innovation remains the cornerstone of global economic growth. ICC is proud to support businesses that create meaningful impact by bringing startups and corporations together to shape the future of global commerce.”

Alberto Onetti, Chairman of Mind the Bridge, added, “BPCL is a strong example of how a large corporation can drive innovation by partnering with and investing in startups. Project Ankur has created a platform that accelerates the adoption of new technologies while supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in India’s evolving energy sector.”

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