NEW DELHI: NMDC Limited, along with the Ministry of Steel and other public sector undertakings (PSUs), held discussions with Russian government officials and companies on the sidelines of Russia Energy Week to strengthen bilateral cooperation in Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and critical minerals.
The Indian delegation was led by Daya Nidhan Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Steel, and included the Director (Production) of NMDC Limited, along with representatives from Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), MOIL Limited and MECON Limited.
The delegation held discussions with officials from Russia’s Ministry of Energy, focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation, exploring investment opportunities in Russia and strengthening India’s minerals security.
Separately, NMDC engaged in business discussions with Russian companies to explore potential strategic collaborations and investment opportunities in Rare Earth Elements and other critical minerals.
India–Russia Talks Focus on Critical Minerals Cooperation
The discussions during Russia Energy Week highlighted opportunities to deepen cooperation between India and Russia in the critical minerals sector.
The talks focused on expanding bilateral engagement and identifying investment opportunities in Russia that could support India’s mineral requirements and strengthen supply chains for the mining and steel industries.
Critical minerals and Rare Earth Elements are important for several strategic and industrial applications, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy technologies and emerging technologies. Strengthening access to these resources is therefore an important consideration for India’s long-term industrial and economic development.
The engagement aims to identify opportunities for cooperation that could contribute to more reliable mineral supplies and stronger industrial partnerships between the two countries.
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NMDC Explores Strategic Investments in Rare Earth Elements
Alongside the government-level discussions, NMDC held separate business talks with Russian companies to explore strategic partnerships and investments in Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and other critical minerals.
These discussions focused on identifying potential areas for collaboration and investment that could strengthen the mineral supply chain and support the development of strategic resources.
Rare Earth Elements are a group of 17 metallic elements widely used in high-performance magnets, electronics, electric vehicles, renewable energy equipment and several advanced industrial applications.
Expanding cooperation in this sector could help India explore additional sources of critical minerals and strengthen its position in strategically important mining and manufacturing value chains.
Delegation Includes NMDC, SAIL, MOIL and MECON Representatives
The Indian delegation brought together representatives from key public sector enterprises operating in the mining, steel and engineering sectors.
The delegation included:
- Ministry of Steel: Daya Nidhan Pandey, Joint Secretary, who led the delegation.
- NMDC Limited: Director (Production), along with the company’s representatives.
- Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL): Representatives participating in the discussions.
- MOIL Limited: Representatives from the manganese ore mining company.
- MECON Limited: Representatives from the engineering and consultancy organisation.
The participation of these organisations reflects the importance of coordinated engagement across the mining, steel and industrial infrastructure sectors in strengthening India’s critical mineral supply chains.
Russia Energy Week Provides Platform for Strategic Engagement
Russia Energy Week serves as a platform for discussions on energy cooperation, investment opportunities and partnerships among government representatives, industry leaders and companies.
The meetings held on its sidelines provided an opportunity for Indian representatives to engage with Russian officials and businesses on potential cooperation in Rare Earth Elements and critical minerals.
The latest engagement marks a step towards deepening India–Russia cooperation in mineral resources, exploring strategic investments and building more resilient mining and steel value chains.
About NMDC Limited
NMDC Limited is a Navratna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Steel, Government of India. It is one of India’s leading iron ore producers and is engaged in mineral exploration and mining operations. The company plays an important role in supplying raw materials to the steel industry and supporting India’s mineral resource development. Through its strategic initiatives, NMDC continues to explore opportunities to strengthen India’s mining capabilities and mineral supply chains.
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