Singareni-IMMT pact in Bhubaneswar puts Odisha on critical minerals map; focus on extraction of rare elements

In a major step toward India’s strategic mineral self-reliance, the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bhubaneswar-based CSIR–Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT).

The agreement, signed in the presence of top scientific and administrative officials on Thursday, enables the exploration and production of critical minerals using state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable technologies.

The collaboration signals SCCL’s formal entry into the critical minerals sector as part of its business diversification strategy, aligning with national efforts to reduce import dependency on rare earth elements (REEs).

Notably, these minerals are essential for the manufacture of clean energy components, electronics, defence systems, and industrial magnets.

Bhubaneswar to Drive Scientific Backbone

A press release stated that with IMMT’s technical support, the joint effort will focus on detecting and extracting rare earth elements present in coal, fly ash, interseam clay, and shale from SCCL’s existing operations.

Preliminary findings from IMMT’s research identified 14 types of rare earth elements across SCCL’s sites, including six light REEs like lanthanum and cerium, and eight heavy REEs like dysprosium, scandium, and yttrium. These elements are in growing demand for green technologies such as electric vehicles and wind turbines.

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IMMT will also oversee the deployment of green extraction techniques to ensure environmental compliance during production, which is crucial given the hazardous waste often generated during REE processing.