SCCL sign pact with CSIR-IMMT for exploration of rare minerals from mining waste
The Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) has signed an agreement with the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT). The agreement has been formed for a purpose of a joint exploration and extraction of valuable and rare earth minerals from the overburden along with the other mining waste generated by the coal company as part of its coal mining activity.
New Delhi: The Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) has signed an agreement with the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT). The agreement has been formed for a purpose of a joint exploration and extraction of valuable and rare earth minerals from the overburden along with the other mining waste generated by the coal company as part of its coal mining activity.
SCCL CMD N. Balram stated that the joint effort would be a major step forward both in the exploration of rare earth minerals and the country’s self-reliance.
Director of IMMT Ramanuj Narayan stated that they would explore the rare minerals in the mining waste of Singareni with the help of indigenous technology.
In this agreement, the two entities would explore for rare earth minerals and other valuable minerals in the shale, soil, sandstone, granite, fly ash, bottom ash and other waste generated by Singareni’s activities.
The agreement was signed by Chief Scientist and Hydro & Electro Metallurgy Head Kali Sanjay on behalf of IMMT and Director (Planning & Projects) K. Venkateshwarlu on behalf of SCCL.
SCCL and IMMT earlier in this year had come to a preliminary understanding on mutual cooperation for the exploration of rare minerals and the fresh agreement would pave the way for going ahead in that direction, Mr. Balram said.
The presence of rare minerals was already found in the opencast mining areas, overburden and fly ash and bottom ash generated by the Singareni Thermal Power Project (STPP), he added.