The government cancelled auctions of 11 critical mineral blocks due to poor investor response and insufficient bidders, dealing a setback to domestic exploration efforts amid rising global demand for strategic minerals like lithium and rare earth elements
South Eastern Coalfields Ltd, a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, has identified seven mine overburden dumps for rare earth element exploration. Scientific studies and tendering are underway, aiming to boost domestic critical mineral supply and reduce import dependence
A parliamentary panel urged India to strengthen IREL with targeted budgetary support to boost rare earth element exploration and mining. Recommendations include domestic supply strategies, international collaborations, and leveraging GSI projects to reduce import dependence for critical minerals
SCCL has signed an agreement with NFTDC to establish a pilot plant in Kothagudem for identifying and extracting Rare Earth Elements from overburden soil and fly ash. The initiative marks a strategic move into the critical minerals sector under the State government’s guidance.
SCCL, which has expanded its operations beyond coal excavation into power generation, is setting up a Geochemical Laboratory in Kothagudem at a cost of Rs.15 crore. The lab will specialise in analysing rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals found in the company’s coal mines and power plants.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to African and Latin American countries was, in a way, a novel diplomatic outreach to scout for rare earth markets
To explore rare earth elements in Telangana; with technical support and eco-friendly technologies, company aims to expand operations beyond coal while ensuring environmental sustainability
