Tue Dec 02 17:20:00 UTC 2025: Summary:

The Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) has partnered with the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) to explore and extract rare earth minerals from mining waste generated by SCCL’s coal mining operations. The agreement aims to leverage indigenous technology to identify and extract valuable minerals from shale, soil, sandstone, fly ash, and other waste materials. Previous findings by SCCL and the Geological Survey of India suggest the presence of various rare earth minerals in the Singareni mining areas. The initiative is geared towards bolstering India’s self-reliance in rare earth mineral production.

News Article:

SCCL and CSIR-IMMT Join Forces to Extract Rare Minerals from Mining Waste

Hyderabad, December 2, 2025 – The Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) and the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) have signed a landmark agreement to jointly explore and extract valuable rare earth minerals from mining waste generated by SCCL’s coal mining activities. The partnership, announced on Tuesday, aims to leverage indigenous technology to unlock the potential of mining overburden and other waste materials, potentially boosting India’s self-sufficiency in critical mineral resources.

SCCL Chairman and Managing Director N. Balram hailed the initiative as a “major step forward” in the exploration of rare earth minerals, while IMMT Director Ramanuj Narayan emphasized the use of indigenous technology to extract the minerals from Singareni’s mining waste.

The agreement will see the two entities collaborate to identify and extract rare earth minerals and other valuable elements from various mining byproducts, including shale, soil, sandstone, granite, fly ash, and bottom ash. Previous findings by SCCL and the Geological Survey of India have indicated the presence of about 14 light and heavy rare earth minerals, such as lanthanum, cerium, and dysprosium, in the Singareni mining areas.

“Our main objective is extracting critical minerals from the industrial wastes with the help of indigenous technologies,” said the IMMT Director. “It would also be a step in the direction of the country achieving self-reliance in the matter of rare and critical earth minerals.”

The move comes as India seeks to reduce its dependence on foreign sources for rare earth minerals, which are crucial for various high-tech industries, including electronics, renewable energy, and defense.

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