NITI Aayog Critical Minerals Panel Meets at Singareni Collieries Company Limited to Boost National Mission

Hyderabad: The second meeting of the National Critical & Strategic Minerals Committee, constituted by NITI Aayog, was held at Singareni Bhavan in Hyderabad on Thursday, focusing on accelerating India’s push towards self-reliance in critical minerals.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. D.K. Singh and brought together senior representatives from key public and private sector mining companies, research institutions, and government bodies to deliberate on strengthening India’s resource security amid rising global demand for strategic minerals.

Singareni Reaffirms Commitment

Dr. Buddhaprakash Jyoti, IAS, Chairman and Managing Director of Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and a member of the Committee, welcomed participants and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the National Critical Mineral Mission.

He stated that the Committee’s role in identifying and developing domestic reserves of critical and strategic minerals would be crucial in reducing import dependence and strengthening India’s long-term economic and technological growth.

Highlighting SCCL’s initiatives, Dr. Jyoti said the company is exploring the extraction of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from overburden and clay materials found in coal seams at its opencast mines. Additionally, efforts are underway to recover valuable minerals from fly ash and bottom ash generated at the Singareni Thermal Power Plant — a move aligned with sustainable mining and resource optimization goals.

Strategic Importance of Critical Minerals

Committee members emphasized that minerals such as lithium, rare earth elements, cobalt, and nickel are vital for sectors including renewable energy, electric vehicles, electronics, defense, and advanced manufacturing.

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Although India has reserves of certain critical minerals, limited exploration and mining activities have led to continued reliance on imports. With demand projected to grow significantly, members stressed the need for coordinated efforts between public and private mining industries to power India’s self-reliance in this strategic sector.

Focus on Exploration and Policy Support

The meeting featured detailed discussions on:

• India’s current demand-supply scenario for critical minerals
• Exploration opportunities across states
• Technological requirements and R&D needs
• Policy support mechanisms
• Roles of government agencies and mining organizations

The Committee called for accelerated exploration, enhanced research and development, and strategic partnerships to unlock India’s untapped mineral potential.

Sri R. Saravanabhavan, Deputy Advisor (Minerals), NITI Aayog and Member Secretary of the Committee, informed that time-bound action would be initiated to finalize and submit the Committee’s report. He added that the next meeting would be held at NLC India Limited next month.

Sri M. Prasanna Kumar, CMD of NLC India Limited, participated virtually. Senior Singareni officials, including Director (P&P) Sri K. Venkateswarlu, GM (CDN & Marketing) Sri T. Srinivas, and GM (Exploration) Sri B. Srinivasa Rao, were present at the meeting.

Representatives from leading organizations such as Coal India Limited, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation, Adani Group, Vedanta Limited, Hindalco Industries, Hindustan Zinc, and other industry stakeholders also attended.

Toward Self-Reliance

The Committee concluded that collaborative action, policy backing, and faster exploration are essential to transform India into a self-reliant nation in the critical minerals sector. Singareni reiterated its resolve to actively contribute to this national mission through innovation, responsible mining, and strategic partnerships.