New Delhi: Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (GMDC), a leading state-owned mining enterprise, has achieved a major milestone in India’s rare earths journey with the acquisition of an indigenous processing technology from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). This development strengthens India’s capability to process critical minerals domestically and advance the nation’s Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives.
Indigenous Technology Transfer from BARC
The technology transfer took place at the BARC campus in Trombay in the presence of the Director of BARC, the Director of the Materials Group – BARC, and senior officials from GMDC. The transferred technology, titled “Process for the Recovery of Rare Earth Values from Ankeritic Ore Body of Ambadungar, Gujarat, India (CH48MinD),” has been developed by BARC to produce Mixed Rare Earth Concentrate (MREC) from the Ambadungar hard-rock ankeritic ore.
This process addresses ore-specific technical challenges and provides GMDC with a clear pathway for pilot-scale recovery and validation of rare earth elements, a critical component in sectors such as electronics, defence, and renewable energy.
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Pilot-Scale Deployment and Technical Support
GMDC plans to implement the technology at a pilot scale initially, with ongoing technical support from BARC. This phase will focus on:
- Process validation and recovery optimization
- Environmental performance assessment
- Analytical testing and operational fine-tuning
To support these activities, GMDC will leverage its promoted institution, the International Centre of Excellence in Mining Safety and Automation (iCEM), Ahmedabad, for pilot-scale and analytical testing. This approach aims to optimize timelines and build strong institutional capabilities for rare earth processing.
Strategic Significance
Mr. Roopwant Singh, IAS, Managing Director of GMDC, stated:
“The transfer of the rare earth processing technology from BARC for the Ambadungar REE Project represents an important step in GMDC’s rare earths journey. It strengthens our ability to develop the project in a systematic and responsible manner, while building an end-to-end, future-ready rare earths value chain. Our focus remains on long-term value creation in alignment with India’s critical mineral strategy and the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.”
The collaboration highlights the synergy between India’s research institutions and public sector enterprises in developing indigenous capabilities for critical minerals, reducing import dependence, and boosting the domestic rare earths ecosystem.
About GMDC
Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (GMDC) is a state-owned mining and mineral development company under the Government of Gujarat. The company is actively engaged in mining and processing of minerals, including bauxite, lignite, and rare earths. GMDC plays a crucial role in supporting India’s mineral security and contributes to the nation’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives by fostering indigenous technology adoption and sustainable resource development.
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