NLC India Limited (NLCIL) and the CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CSIR-CECRI) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together on the beneficiation and extraction of critical and strategic minerals.
The agreement was formalised on 10 June 2026 at Neyveli in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu as part of efforts to support the Indian Government’s National Critical Mineral Mission.
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The collaboration aims to study overburden materials and tailings at NLCIL’s Neyveli Mines, with the goal of assessing the extraction and recovery potential of rare earth elements (REEs) and other trace minerals.
Further opportunities for similar studies at other NLCIL mining and exploration sites will be explored, with a focus on developing sustainable and economically viable technologies for recovering valuable resources from secondary sources.
The MoU was signed by NLCIL executive director (Mines & Land) I.S. Jasper Rose and CSIR-CECRI director K. Ramesha.
The signing took place in the presence of several NLCIL officials including chairman and managing director Prasanna Kumar Motupalli and director (Mines) Suresh Chandra Suman.
Motupalli said that the partnership with CSIR-CECRI aims to support research into the recovery of REEs and other critical minerals from mining waste and secondary resources.
The collaboration is expected to help develop technologies in line with the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission and align with India’s goal of self-reliance in key minerals.
K. Ramesha noted that both organisations have long-standing operations in Tamil Nadu and expect the joint effort to advance research and support India’s critical mineral supply chain.
NLCIL has been pursuing work in the exploration and development of critical and strategic minerals from both primary and secondary sources.
Motupalli is a member of a committee at Indian Government think tank NITI Aayog examining the recovery of such minerals from resources including mine waste, overburden and tailings.
