Coal India (CIL) has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) to jointly explore and develop critical minerals and other strategic resources.

This collaboration marks a key step in CIL’s diversification strategy beyond coal, aligning with India's push to secure domestic supplies of essential minerals. The move follows CIL’s recent ventures into non-coal mineral sectors, including partnerships with IREL (India) and bids for graphite blocks in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements are vital for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy technologies, and electronics—industries integral to India’s net-zero goals.

As the country seeks to reduce dependence on imports, the government has identified 30 critical minerals and is encouraging public and private sector participation in their exploration, processing, and recycling.