Hyderabad: The CSIR-In stitute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) has entered into a research and development agreement with The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) to explore the recovery of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and other trace critical minerals from coal-industry waste streams. These include shale, clay, sandstone, granite rocks, and coal fly ash and bottom ash.The project was formally launched today at the Singareni Bhavan, SCCL, Hyderabad with the exchange of signed project agreements between both organisations. The launch event was presided over by Shri N. Balram, IRS, C hairman & Managing Director, SCCL, and Dr Ramanuj Narayan, Director, CSI R-IMMT, was coordinated by Shri K. Venkates warlu Director (P&P), and Shri Srinivas Rao, GM (Exploration) from SCCL and Dr Kali Sanjay, Chief Scientist and Head, Business Development and CSIR- IMMT Centre of Excellence from CSI R-IMMT.REEs are vital for EVs, wind turbines, electronics, and clean-energy technologies, and India’s demand is rising rapidly. With global supply chains concentrated, recovering REEs from coal-linked wastes offers a strategic domestic resource to strengthen critical minerals security.The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), jointly owned by the Government of Telangana and the Government of India, is one of India’s oldest and largest coal mining companies. With a legacy of more than 100 years, SCCL has consistently advanced coal mining. The company plays a pivotal role in supporting India’s energy sector and is increasingly investing in sustainable mining technologies, waste utilisation, and diversification into new resource domains.The CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-lMMT). Bhubaneswar, is India’s premier R&D institution dedicated to mineral processing extractive metallurgy, materials development, and critical minerals recovery. The in stitute hosts the Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals under the National Centre for Minerals and Materials (NCMM), which brings together academia, R&D laboratories, and industry to develop indigenous technologies and pilot-scale solutions for securing India’s critical mineral value chains. SCCL is a key industrial spoke of this Centre of Excellence, facilitating industry-driven research.Under this initiative, CSIR-IMMT wlill undertake detailed characterisation studies and develop feasibility pathways for the extraction of rare earths and associated critical elements from diverse coal-linked waste materials. The project aims to establish scientific insights into mineral occurrence, assess viability of recovery, and generate a roadmap for process development at pilot scale.Statement from Shri N. Balram, IRS, Chairman & Managing Director, SCCL:”This partnership marks an important step in expanding SCCL’s contribution to India’s critical minerals security. With coal-industry wastes available in large volumes, valorising these resources for rare earths and critical metals presents a significant opportunity. SCCL is committed to supporting scientific initiatives that enhance resource efficiency, reduce waste burdens, and strengthen the national critical minerals supply chain.”
Statement from Dr Ramanuj Narayan, Director, CSIR-IMMT:
“CSIR-IMMT has long focused on developing indigenous technologies for critical minerals recovery from industrial wastes, and circular economy pathways. Our collaboration with SCCL aligns with the national objective of securing REEs and other critical minerals for emerging green technologies. Through advanced characterisation, beneficiation, and extraction studies, this project will generate knowledge that can lead to scalable, environmentally responsible recovery routes.”
The collaboration between CSIR-MMT and SCCL reflects a shared vision of leveraging science and technology to support India’s critical minerals mission and accelerate sustainable resource utilisation.