NTPC Mining Limited (NML) and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research and development in the field of critical minerals, mineral processing, and sustainable mining technologies.
The MoU was formally signed by Naveen Jain, CEO of NML and RED (Mining), NTPC, and Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, Director of CSIR-IMMT. The signing ceremony was coordinated by Dr. Kali Sanjay, Head of the Hydro, Bio & Electrometallurgy Department and Business Development at CSIR-IMMT; Dhananjay Shrikhande, General Manager (Technical Services & Commercial); and Anil Kumar Soni, Additional General Manager (Technical Services & Business Development), NTPC Mining Limited.
“This collaboration aligns with our vision to become a benchmark organization in safe, sustainable, and efficient mining through technological excellence and environmental stewardship,” said Naveen Jain. “By combining NML’s operational expertise with CSIR-IMMT’s cutting-edge R&D capabilities, we aim to make significant progress in mine planning, mineral beneficiation, and sustainable mine closure practices.”
Dr. Ramanuj Narayan emphasized the relevance of the partnership in the current policy context. “This collaboration is timely, as India ramps up efforts under the National Critical Minerals Mission. NTPC Mining’s foray into the critical minerals sector complements our mission of delivering scalable, science-led, and industry-relevant solutions.”
About NTPC Mining Limited
Established in 2018, NTPC Mining Limited has played a key role in enhancing India’s energy security. The company has produced over 134 million tonnes of coal and currently fulfills about 15% of NTPC’s coal requirement as of FY 2024–25. With India moving toward a cleaner energy future, NML is strategically expanding into the exploration and development of critical minerals both domestically and internationally, in line with the Government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
CSIR-IMMT, with decades of expertise in minerals and materials research, has been instrumental in providing innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions for the mining and metallurgy industries.
The partnership is expected to boost India’s capabilities in critical mineral processing, which is vital for sectors such as renewable energy, defense, and electronics, and is considered essential for India’s future energy and technological self-reliance.
