New Delhi (10.11.2025): India is taking decisive steps to secure supply of critical minerals that power our microchips, batteries, electric vehicles, drive clean energy, AI systems, semiconductor, AI technologies. However, these are mostly locked up in rocks that need specialized mineral processing for extraction. With its unique expertise in hard rock mining, Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) is one of the few companies ideally placed to make a foray in the critical mineral sector and provide valuable service to our nation. In line with this vision, HCL is looking beyond the frontiers.
In tune, HCL organized an International Seminar on Critical and Strategic Minerals for Viksit Bharat @ 2047, in Kolkata on 9th November, 2025, to celebrate its 59th Foundation Day. The event was graced by the presence of a host of foreign dignitaries, diplomats, mining stalwarts and delegates.
G Kishan Reddy, Minister for Coal and Mines, Government of India, in his virtual keynote address emphasized the urgency for mineral security for the nation and urged HCL to play a meaningful role in this endeavour. Satish Chandra Dubey, Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Government of India, lauded HCL for organizing the international seminar enriched with deliberations and technical papers from global experts. The seminar will open up possibilities for collaboration between Indian mining players and their overseas counterparts.
Sanjiv Kumar Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, HCL, said in his address that HCL has collaborated with leading PSUs and Codelco, the state-owned world’s largest copper miner in Chile. Through Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), its JV with NALCO and MECL, HCL is also scouting for critical and strategic mineral assets abroad. As we move towards a low carbon future, the role of such minerals will become indispensable, he added.
Dr Sanjeev Kumar Sinha, Director Operation and Director Mining – Addl. Charge, HCL, in his welcome address said that the seminar will provide a platform for sharing knowledge on innovative technologies that will contribute in securing supply of critical and strategic minerals through sustainable means.
This event was graced by the presence of Sanoj Kumar Jha, IAS, Addl. Secy., Ministry of Coal, and CMD – Addl. Charge, Coal India Limited, Ujjwal Tah, Director General, DGMS, Asit Saha, Director General, GSI, Pankaj Kulshrestha, Controller General (I/c), IBM, Brijendra Pratap Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, NALCO, Dr Ramanuj Narayanan, Director, CSIR-IMMT, KOZLOV Maxim Victorovich, Consul General of the Russian Federation. They were hosted by Sanjiv Kumar Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, HCL, Dr Sanjeev Kumar Sinha, Director Operation and Director Mining – Addl. Charge, HCL, R V N Vishweshwar, Director (Finance), HCL, Avinash Janardan Bhide, Independent Director, HCL, and Harsimran Singh, CVO, HCL.
