New Delhi: Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), Hyderabad, under the Ministry of Defence, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Heavy Water Board (HWB) and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, both under the Department of Atomic Energy, to collaborate on the production and recovery of cobalt and nickel from plant reverts.
Signed on October 27, 2026, the tripartite agreement aims to promote resource recovery, sustainable manufacturing and the circular economy by developing efficient processes to recover valuable metals from secondary resources. The collaboration will combine the three organisations’ technological capabilities, industrial resources and specialised expertise to improve resource utilisation and reduce dependence on primary mineral resources.
MIDHANI, HWB and BARC Join Hands for Critical Metal Recovery
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation among MIDHANI, HWB and BARC to explore and implement efficient processes for recovering nickel and cobalt from plant reverts.
The initiative seeks to unlock the value of materials that might otherwise remain underutilised, while supporting environmentally responsible metal production. By recovering critical metals from secondary sources, the organisations aim to strengthen domestic supply chains and improve the availability of important industrial raw materials.
The collaboration also reflects a shared focus on resource efficiency, recycling and sustainable industrial practices.
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Nickel and Cobalt: Strategic Metals for India’s Industrial Growth
Nickel and cobalt are critical metals used in a wide range of industrial and strategic applications. They play an important role in advanced battery technologies, electric vehicles (EVs), stainless steel production, superalloys and other specialised industrial products.
Recovering these metals from plant reverts offers an opportunity to improve the utilisation of available resources and support the growing demand for critical metals in India.
The initiative is expected to contribute to:
- Strengthening domestic supply chains: Recovering nickel and cobalt from secondary resources can support the domestic availability of these critical metals.
- Promoting sustainable manufacturing: Efficient recovery processes can help maximise the value of existing materials.
- Reducing dependence on primary minerals: Reusing secondary resources can reduce reliance on newly extracted mineral resources.
- Supporting clean-energy technologies: Nickel and cobalt are important materials for advanced batteries and electric vehicles.
- Advancing the circular economy: Recovering valuable metals from plant reverts can promote recycling and more efficient resource utilisation.
Senior Officials Sign MoU for MIDHANI, HWB and BARC
The MoU was signed by senior representatives of the three organisations on October 27, 2026.
The signatories were:
- Dr. S. V. S. Narayana Murty, Chairman and Managing Director, MIDHANI.
- V. V. S. A. Prasad, Chairman and Chief Executive, Heavy Water Board.
- Dr. Alok Awasthi, Associate Director, Materials Group, BARC.
The signing ceremony was also attended by K. Madhubala, Director (Finance), MIDHANI, and Sandeep Wadhwa, Executive Director, HWB.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. S. V. S. Narayana Murty, Chairman and Managing Director of MIDHANI, said the MoU marked an important milestone in the organisation’s efforts to promote the recovery of critical metals from secondary resources.
He added that the collaboration would bring together the strengths of the participating organisations to develop viable, sustainable and commercially competitive solutions for producing cobalt and nickel from plant reverts.
Collaboration to Support India’s Circular Economy
The three organisations expressed confidence that the partnership would create new opportunities in metal recovery and recycling while contributing to the long-term availability of critical raw materials for India’s growing industrial and clean-energy sectors.
By combining technological expertise and industrial capabilities, MIDHANI, HWB and BARC aim to advance resource recovery and sustainable metal production. The initiative is expected to support more efficient use of materials and strengthen efforts to build a resilient domestic supply of critical metals.
About Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI)
Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) is a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Defence, headquartered in Hyderabad. The company specialises in the manufacture of special steels, superalloys and other high-performance materials for strategic applications, including defence, aerospace and other advanced industrial sectors.
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