Page 8 - Mining Industry

Lagging behind in mineral geopolitics: India needs a rare earth strategy

The pursuit of minerals and fuel resources remains the driving force behind geopolitics even after the end of old-style colonialism

Exploring critical minerals in Zambia, Congo, Australia: Mines secy Rao

The move comes as India is taking efforts to reduce its reliance on imports of minerals such as lithium, key to energy transition technologies

Supreme Court dismisses Vedanta's plea against Goa iron ore mine e-auction

Following the Supreme Court's dismissal of Vedanta's plea, the Goa government is now set to proceed with the fresh e-auction process for the mineral block

S&P upgrades Vedanta Resources' rating on reduced refinancing risk

Vedanta Resources has seen its rating being upgraded in recent months after seeking to lower its debt and improve its capital structure

Budget 2025: FM takes 'transformative reforms' route to boost growth

The domains include regulatory reforms, the power sector, urban development, mining, the financial sector, and taxation

Budget reforms to enhance competitiveness of critical minerals: Industry

The mining reforms introduced in the Union Budget will have a transformative impact and will enhance the competitiveness of India's critical minerals sector, industry players said. In her Budget speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that a policy for recovery of critical minerals from tailings or by-products of mining will be launched. Sitharaman also said that mining sector reforms, including those for minor minerals, will be encouraged through the sharing of best practices and the institution of a State Mining Index. Additionally, the finance minister announced the removal of import duty on 12 critical minerals, cobalt powder and waste, lithium-ion battery scrap, lead and zinc. The sharing of best practices and institutionalising a State Mining Index for minor minerals along with a policy for recovery of critical minerals from tailings will enable circularity and innovation within the industry, Hindustan Zinc Ltd CEO Arun Misra said. As the country transitions t

Coal India's output dips 0.8% in Jan, first monthly decline in FY25

Coal India Ltd (CIL) on Saturday reported its first monthly production de-growth with the miner's output reducing by 0.8 per cent year-on-year in January. The company produced 77.8 million tonnes (MT) of coal in January as compared to 78.4 MT in the year-ago month. Despite the January production decline, CIL's management remains optimistic about achieving strong growth in the February-March period of the current fiscal, an official said. In December 2024, Coal India's production increased by 5.25 per cent year-on-year. For the period from April 2024 to January 2025, CIL recorded a growth of 1.8 per cent with output reaching 621.1 MT, up from 610.3 MT in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. CIL's offtake in January stood at 68.6 MT, a 2.2 per cent increase, from 67.1 MT in the year-ago month. For the first 10 months of the current fiscal (April 2024-January 2025), CIL's offtake reached 630.2 MT, reflecting a 1.8 per cent increase, from 619.4 MT in the corresponding per

Securing critical minerals: India's new mission for future growth

There is, of course, an important national-security element to this effort. Globally, the extraction and processing of critical minerals are dominated by China

Abu Dhabi fund ADQ, Orion team up to invest $1.2 bn in metals, mining

The partners will invest through different asset classes, including equity, senior debt and production-linked instruments, such as royalties

L&T wins big order for freight handling in gulf worth Rs 1,000-2,500 crore

The project will include designing, procuring materials, constructing, and setting up advanced automated freight handling systems at two locations

Vedanta's Rs 1 trillion aluminium refinery to be built in Odisha's Raygada

Mining conglomerate Vedanta on Tuesday said the company's Rs 1 lakh crore aluminium refinery and smelter project will be set up in Raygada district of Odisha. The first phase of the project is expected to be commissioned in the next three years, which will be expanded later, company Chairman Anil Agarwal said. Vedanta in October last year announced that it will make Rs 1 lakh crore investment in Odisha to build a 6 MTPA alumina refinery and a 3 MTPA green aluminium plant. However, the place where it will be set up was not revealed then. Speaking on the sidelines of the state's business conclave, Utkarsh Odisha-Make in Odisha, Agarwal said, We will establish the aluminium refinery of 6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) capacity and aluminium smelter of 30 lakh tonne capacity in Rayagada district. The total investment will be around Rs 1 lakh crore. He said the mining conglomerate has got Sijimali bauxite mine in Rayagada district, which is now being developed for exploration. During

Govt to invest nearly $2 billion to develop critical minerals sector

India identified 30 minerals, including lithium, as critical for its energy transition efforts and to meet the growing demand from industries

JSW Group to invest Rs 2,600 cr in copper mines, plant in Jharkhand

JSW Group on Monday said it will invest Rs 2,600 crore to develop and operate two copper mines and set up a copper concentrator plant in Jharkhand. The development marks JSW Group's foray into the copper business as part of its commitment to diversification and growth. "With a planned investment of Rs 2,600 crore, this marks a significant milestone in strengthening India's position in critical resources," it said in a statement. JSW Group said it has made a significant expansion into the mining of non- ferrous metals by winning the mine operator and developer (MDO) contract of two blocks of copper mines in Jharkhand from state-owned Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL). "The project involves operationalising the two mines and setting up of a copper concentrator plant, with the total capital investment estimated to be Rs 2,600 crore," it said. On full-scale ramp up, the mines will have an ore capacity of three million tonne per annum (MTPA). The mines are likely to become part operational

Govt to launch critical mineral mission to boost production: Mines minister

Union minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday said the Centre will soon launch the National Critical Mineral Mission (CMM) to enhance domestic production, reduce import dependence, and encourage offshore mining auctions, while urging states to cooperate for sustained mining activities. Reddy made the remark after inaugurating the 3rd National Mining Ministers' Conference in Konark, in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Bihar's deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, Telangana deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, and other dignitaries and industry leaders. "The mission will soon get Cabinet approval. Union finance minister had announced about it in her budget speech. Import duty on critical mineral has also been made zero," Reddy said. Lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel and rare earth elements are known as critical minerals which are essential for manufacturing defence equipment and key technologies. Stating that India has already made a place in the global platform on critical ...

NMDC to extract diamonds worth $3.4 mn from mine near tiger reserve in MP

NMDC, which has not yet started new rounds of mining, is focusing on extracting and processing diamonds from ore stockpiles at its Panna mine

Over 400 mineral development projects in GSI's roadmap for 2025-26

The Geological Survey of India on Sunday said it has charted an extensive roadmap for the 2025-26 field season with around 1,065 scientific programmes, including 402 mineral development projects and a 16-per cent jump in the number of critical mineral initiatives. Within exploration activities, a significant focus has been placed on critical mineral exploration, with 227 dedicated projects targeting strategically important mineral commodities such as graphite, lithium and vanadium, the surveyor said in a statement. The GSI said it would spend Rs 300 crore on critical mineral exploration and investigation during the field season. "For the upcoming year 2025-26, GSI has formulated about 1,065 scientific programmes, which include 402 mineral development projects that have the potential to generate auctionable mineral blocks in the near future," it said. The Kolkata-headquartered GSI will also take up 167 mineral discovery projects having the potential to create promising areas for fut

Geological survey indicates presence of lithium in Odisha: GSI official

A recent Geological Survey of India study has indicated the presence of lithium a widely used metal in the production of glass, aluminum products and batteries in some districts of Odisha, a senior GSI official said on Sunday. Lithium reserves have earlier been found in parts of Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir, he said. As such there is no major finding, but there are some indications of lithium presence (in Odisha). We are in a very preliminary stage, and therefore, should not make any claim. However, speaking geologically, some indications are there in the Eastern Ghat belt like in Nayagarh, Deputy DG of GSI Pankaj Kumar said. Kumar was speaking on the sidelines of a GSI meeting here ahead of the two-day National Mines Ministers' Conference in Konark, which commences on Monday. If Lithium is found in Odisha, it can pave the way for the establishment of electric vehicle manufacturing units in the state, an official said. Speaking to reporters, Union Mines Secretary V L Kantha R

Centre steps in as Karnataka's new mining taxes threaten steel sector

The Centre is exploring legal measures in response to Karnataka's new mining taxes, which could impact the mining and steel industries; the taxes, awaiting Governor's assent, have raised concerns

Vedanta Resources secures $300 million loan commitment for debt refinancing

In September 2024, Vedanta Resources raised $900 million in its first dollar bond issue in more than two years and later raised $800 million through another dollar bond issue in November

Remote but resource-rich Greenland occupies key position in warming world

Greenland is where climate change, scarce resources, tense geopolitics and new trade patterns all intersect, said Ohio University security and environment professor Geoff Dabelko