The MoU has been signed on June 10, 2026 at Neyveli by NLCIL Executive Director (Mines & Land) I S Jasper Rose and CSIR-CECRI Director K Ramesha in the presence of senior officials from both organisations, including NLCIL Chairman and Managing Director Prasanna Kumar Motupalli.

The collaboration aims to promote research and technology development for the recovery of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and other critical minerals from secondary resources such as mine overburden, tailings, lignite and coal-related waste materials. The initiative is aligned with the Government of India's broader strategy to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

NLC India has been actively exploring opportunities in the critical minerals sector through both primary and secondary sources. The company's CMD is also a member of a committee constituted by NITI Aayog to examine the recovery potential of critical and strategic minerals from secondary resources, including mine waste, overburden and tailings. NLCIL has already undertaken studies to assess the occurrence and recovery potential of REEs and other trace elements from such materials.

Under the MoU, the two organisations will carry out detailed studies on overburden materials and tailings generated from NLCIL's Neyveli mines to evaluate the feasibility of extracting Rare Earth Elements and other valuable trace minerals. The partnership will also explore similar opportunities across NLCIL's other mining and exploration projects with the objective of developing sustainable and commercially viable resource recovery technologies.