The Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) has signed a landmark agreement with the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) to jointly explore and extract rare earth minerals from the mining waste generated by SCCL’s coal operations. 

The collaboration aims to tap into valuable minerals found in materials like shale, fly ash, bottom ash, and overburden waste. According to SCCL’s Chairman, N Balram, this initiative marks a significant step toward exploring rare minerals and advancing India’s self-reliance in critical minerals. IMMT’s Director, Ramanuj Narayan, emphasized using indigenous technology for extraction. 

The presence of rare earth elements such as lanthanum, cerium, and dysprosium has already been identified in SCCL’s mining areas, particularly in opencast operations. The joint effort also aligns with India’s push to reduce dependency on foreign imports of these crucial minerals.