Mining

Centre files curative plea in SC over states' right to levy mining cess

The Centre has approached the Supreme Court with a curative plea against the ruling that allowed states to levy a cess on mining lands, warning of international implications and strain on the federal

BEML, Italy's Tesmec ink pact to introduce surface miner equipment in India

State-owned BEML on Friday said it has joined hands with Italy's Tesmec, S.p.A to introduce surface miner equipment for mining operations in the country. Surface miner equipment refers to heavy machinery used in open-cast mining operation. This includes surface miners, which cut and crush rock and soil without drilling or blasting. Other types of surface mining equipment include draglines, bucket-wheel excavators, blasthole drills, dozers, and large mining trucks. In a filing to the BSE, the company said, "BEML Ltd and Tesmec, S.p.A Italy have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), for introducing surface miner equipment by BEML for mining application." Being India's leading mining and construction equipment manufacturer, BEML offers a comprehensive and diverse range of mining machinery for both opencast and underground mines. BEML produces machines such as hydraulic excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders, wheel dozers, dump trucks, motor graders, pipe layers, tyre handl

Govt puts in place timelines to expedite ops of auctioned mineral blocks

The government on Sunday said it has amended the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 to introduce timelines for different activities after the auction of mineral blocks to expedite their operations. The amendment has put in place milestones between the issuance of the letter of intent and the execution of mining leases, with imposing of penalties for delays and giving incentives for early production. The move aims at improving monitoring across the stages of mine development and preventing bidders from sitting on the blocks without beginning the operations. "As the latest step in its endeavour to fast-track operationalisation, the Ministry of Mines has notified amendment to the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015 on October 17, 2025 introducing intermediary timelines for various activities to be completed after issue of Letter of Intent till execution of mining lease," an official statement said. Under the amended rules, approval of the mining plan should happen within six months, environmenta

ONGC to invest ₹8,110 cr to develop 172 onshore wells in Andhra Pradesh

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is set to invest Rs 8,110 crore for onshore development and production of oil and gas from 172 wells in eight PML (petroleum mining lease) blocks in Andhra Pradesh. A committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has recommended Environmental Clearance for the project in a meeting held last month. The estimated project cost is Rs 8110 crore. Capital cost of EMP (Environment Management Plan) would be Rs. 172 crore and recurring cost for EMP would be Rs. 91.16 Crores per annum. Industry proposes to allocate Rs. 11 crores for commitments made in Public Hearing, Expert Appraisal Committee said in the minutes of the meeting. While recommending the EC, the committee directed the ONGC to comply with all the environmental protection measures and safeguards proposed in the documents submitted to the Ministry. All the recommendations made in the EIA/EMP in respect of environmental management, and risk mitigation measures

How China's 500kW antenna is giving it a clear lead in the mineral race

China is using its massive 500kW electromagnetic antenna, originally for submarines, to detect hidden lithium, cobalt, gold, and rare earths, boosting its lead in global mineral exploration

Centre drops public consultation for atomic and critical mineral mining

The environment ministry has exempted mining of atomic, critical, and strategic minerals from public consultations, citing national defence, security, and strategic requirements

A tepid start: India's critical mineral block auctions see weak response

In these auctions, the government grants two types of concessions: a mining lease allows the winning bidder to directly undertake mining operations

Critical mineral blocks auction: A snapshot of the progress so far

Since the launch of auctions for critical minerals in 2023, the government has offered 81 blocks across five tranches

Vedanta board approves second interim dividend of ₹16 per share for FY26

Mining major Vedanta Ltd on Thursday said its board has approved the second interim dividend of Rs 16 per share for the current fiscal, amounting to an outgo of Rs 6,256 crore. The company had earlier announced a dividend of Rs 7 per share in June this year. The first dividend had led to an outflow of Rs 2,737 crore. "The board of directors of Vedanta Ltd at its meeting held today...has considered and approved the second interim dividend of Rs 16 per equity share on face value of Re 1 per equity share for financial year 2025-26 amounting to Rs 6,256 crore," the company said in a filing to BSE. The record date for the payment of dividend will be August 27, 2025, it said. Vedanta had announced a total dividend of Rs 43.50 per share in last financial year.

IREL seeks Japan, South Korea partnerships for rare earth magnet production

The miner aims to formalise talks with other countries on rare earth mining and technology partnerships and plans to seek IREL board approval for commercial magnet production this year, source said

Indian govt engaging with China on rare earth magnet issue: Official

India is engaging with Chinese authorities on the issue of restrictions on rare earth magnet exports, and domestic firms have received visas to visit China as part of efforts to ensure the supply chain remains unaffected, a senior official said on Thursday. The Chinese government in April imposed restrictions, mandating special export licences for seven rare earth elements and related magnets. "Efforts are on. In fact, when we last approached the Embassy of China , they had also issued visas to our companies, and they are in touch with Chinese authorities, and they are also finding means and ways by which the supply chain does not get impacted. So efforts are on in that direction," the official said. The automobile industry has sought government support in expediting approvals from the Chinese government for importing rare earth magnets used in various applications, including passenger cars. Critical materials include samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, and lutetium, which a

Govt targets 1K patents in critical minerals by 2031 under national mission

National Critical Mineral Mission to support innovation in exploration, processing, and recycling of key minerals to boost domestic tech and reduce import dependence

Unscientific mining in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar risks disasters: Govt panel

A government-appointed panel has warned that unscientific mining in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar district is destabilising slopes, threatening villages and agriculture besides disrupting water sources in the fragile Himalayan region. The "Geological Assessment and Recommendations For Sustainable Mining Practices in Bageshwar District" report, submitted to the National Green Tribunal on July 30, called for sweeping reforms in mining practices and stringent monitoring to mitigate the risks. The assessment was conducted following rising complaints of landslides, cracks in houses, drying springs and crop losses in several villages around Bageshwar. The tribunal had sought an expert evaluation after local residents alleged that mining in the district was being carried out without regard for environmental safeguards. The panel, comprising experts from the Geological Survey of India, the Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Centre, the Department of Geology and Mining and the Indian

Arcelormittal Q2 results: Net income surges over 3-fold to $1.79 billion

Steel and mining major ArcelorMittal on Thursday posted an over threefold jump in net income to USD 1,793 million in the June quarter, primarily due to the impact of exceptional items. The company, which also has a presence in India through JV AMNS India, had posted a net income of USD 504 million in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. The net income is attributable to equity holders of the parent company. Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal follows January to December as its financial year. Net income increased to USD 1,793 million in the second quarter of 2025 compared to USD 805 million in the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to the impact of USD 0.8 billion exceptional items (net of impairments and tax effects), ArcelorMittal said in a statement. Net income in H1 or January-June 2025 also rose to USD 2,598 million compared to USD 1,442 million in the six months of 2024, mainly driven by USD 0.8 billion in exceptional items (net of impairments and tax effects) and .

Govt awards seven-star ratings to three mines for green practices

Mines are rated on mine-level impact management, progressive mine closure and restoration, social welfare, and reporting, with three mines receiving seven-star ratings for their exceptional practices

Midwest Advanced Materials bets ₹1,000 crore on rare earth magnets

Hyderabad-based MAM to start 500-tonne annual rare earth magnet output by December and invest ₹1,000 crore in three years to scale capacity and secure raw material

Automobiles to pharma & healthcare: Earnings winter to persist in Q4FY25

Past champions such as banks, oil & gas and automotive seen as laggards

Rahul Gandhi writes to PM, seeks tenders' cancellation for offshore mining

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking cancellation of tenders permitting offshore mining along the coast of Kerala, Gujarat, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Flagging the threat to marine life, the Congress leader said opening up offshore mining blocks to private players without any rigorous assessment of its impact was concerning. "I write to you to strongly condemn the central government's decision to permit offshore mining along the coast of Kerala, Gujarat, and Andaman & Nicobar," he said in his letter to the prime minister. Gandhi said coastal communities have been protesting against the manner in which tenders for offshore mining have been floated without evaluating its environmental impact. Millions of fisherfolk have expressed grave concerns about its impact on their livelihood and way of life, he said. "I wrote to PM Modi to condemn the permission granted for offshore mining in Kerala, Gujarat, and the ...

India to sign MoU with Israel and Saudi Arabia for critical minerals

Minister Reddy announced the deployment of 20 nodal officers in international locations that have the potential for critical minerals

Vedanta declared preferred bidder for diamond block in Madhya Pradesh

It said it is the highest bidder with a final price offer of 1.10 per cent