Minerals

NavPrakriti to invest ₹100 crore in Odisha critical minerals facility

Battery recycling firm plans greenfield plant to extract cobalt, nickel and lithium, boosting domestic recovery of critical minerals and strengthening supply chains

US backs rare earths project in South Africa despite diplomatic clash

Two enormous sandlike dunes at an old chemical processing plant in South Africa are at the centre of an exploratory US-backed project to extract highly sought-after rare earth elements from industrial mining waste. The Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project has US support through a USD 50 million equity investment by the government's International Development Finance Corporation and is part of accelerated US efforts to reduce reliance on economic rival China for the minerals crucial for making electronic devices, robotics, defence systems, electric vehicles and other high-tech products. Countries have identified dozens of minerals, including copper, cobalt, lithium and nickel, as critical because they are essential for new technologies. The 17 rare earth elements are a subset of them. President Donald Trump has made expanding US access to critical minerals, including rare earth elements, a central policy to counter China. The Trump administration said this year it will deploy nearly USD 12

Parliamentary panel flags policy, capacity gaps in offshore mining push

Govt annulled first auction of 13 offshore mineral blocks after muted investor response last December

India-Zambia talks on critical minerals stall over mining rights concerns

The exploration programme in Zambia was set to run for three years, after which New Delhi had planned to invite private sector companies to participate, subject to securing mining rights

Centre aims to make India self-reliant in minerals sector: G Kishan Reddy

Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday said that the Centre aims to reduce dependence on imports and make the country 'atma nirbhar' (self-reliant) in the minerals sector. Speaking at a roadshow organised by the Mines Ministry on the 7th Tranche Auction of critical mineral blocks and Tranche-2 Exploration Licence, he said the union government's top priorities are to make the country benefit from the mineral wealth and increase employment generation. "I would like to say on behalf of the Centre. The government does not not work for revenue in the mineral sector. It takes major steps to make the country atma nirbhar in the mineral sector," he said. Observing that there are a lot of opportunities for extraction of critical minerals in urban mining and coal gasification in the future, he urged the private sector to work together with PSUs, state governments and others. Union Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal said during FY 2025-26, a record 212 mineral blocks were auctioned

States must operationalise mineral resources for growth: Experts

Experts say unlocking bauxite resources and building downstream linkages can reduce imports, boost industrial growth, and create jobs in mineral-rich states like Odisha

Easier exploration norms to speed up auctions of felspar, mica, quartz

Govt proposes easing exploration norms to fast-track auctions of felspar, mica and quartz, while retaining stricter rules for critical minerals

Govt finalising policy to build domestic critical minerals value chain

Policy aims to build domestic processing capacity for critical minerals, reduce import dependence and strengthen supply chains for EV batteries and manufacturing

Mines Ministry amends rules to include contiguous areas in leases

New rules allow inclusion of contiguous areas and associated minerals in leases, aiming to boost exploration, improve efficiency, and enhance critical mineral production

PM Modi projects Odisha as a key driver of India's next phase of growth

Cites infrastructure push, industrial expansion and welfare gains in Utkal Divas message to chief minister

Centre asks states to expedite mineral exploration, cut auction delays

The Centre on Wednesday directed all states to expedite ongoing exploration projects, ensure faster approvals and improve coordination to significantly reduce exploration-to-auction timelines, a move aimed at bolstering the nation's critical minerals security amid global supply chain disruptions. Mines minister G Kishan Reddy also stressed the need to adopt advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, drone-based surveys and modern beneficiation techniques, to increase efficiency and success rates in mineral discovery. The minister also stressed the greater inclusion of startups, private exploration agencies and innovation-driven institutions, in line with the vision of Startup India, to bring new ideas and cutting-edge solutions into the exploration ecosystem. Reddy chaired the 7th governing body meeting of the National Mineral Exploration & Development Trust (NMEDT), held here in the august presence of Minister of State for the Department ..

Hindustan Power secures LoI for platinum exploration block in MP

Hindustan Power has secured an LoI for a platinum group elements block in Madhya Pradesh, marking its entry into critical minerals exploration and diversification

States must act against profiteering in retail coal market, says minister

Coal minister urges states to check retail profiteering amid rising prices during the West Asia crisis; Centre launches seventh tranche of critical mineral auctions

Odisha lines up 34 mineral blocks for FY27 auction, includes gold deposits

State plans to auction 25 major and nine critical mineral blocks, including two gold-bearing assets, as it steps up exploration, production and revenue generation

Centre proposes price caps, trading curbs in mineral exchange rules

Draft rules mandate strict surveillance, price disclosure and regulatory powers to cap prices and halt trading, aiming to formalise and bring transparency to mineral markets

Centre invites bids to set up rare earth magnet unit under ₹7,280 cr scheme

The request for proposal seeks applicants to establish integrated Sintered NdFeB Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) units with a total capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA)

The minerals that will power tomorrow must be mined differently today

As demand for critical minerals surges with the clean energy transition, mining must adopt sustainable, technology-led practices to balance growth, environmental responsibility, community expectations

Centre discusses rare-earth corridor sites in Andhra, Odisha and Kerala

Centre discusses SOP for monazite handling, private participation as corridor plans move ahead

Govt steps up rare earth exploration in Andhra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu

Surveys underway in coastal and inland regions to identify monazite deposits as the government pushes to strengthen domestic rare earth supply chains

Japan in talks with India to jointly explore rare earths in Rajasthan

Following on a preliminary pact on critical minerals that Japan and India signed last year, Tokyo has expressed interest in the Rajasthan deposits and plans to send experts to the site