India is intensifying its initiatives to recover more rare earth elements (REEs) from mining waste, particularly from coal mine overburden, as reported by government sources to CNBC TV18.
The broadened exploration aims to optimize resource utilization in open-pit mining operations. According to the report, this enhanced exploration will not only focus on overburden from currently operational mineral-rich sites but will also extend to coal mines and the petroleum sector.
This tactical approach is in line with India’s National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), which seeks to lessen reliance on foreign imports and improve resource management. N Balram, Chairman of the Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL), shared that investigations conducted by the Non-ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC) identified one kg of scandium and strontium per 15 tonnes of clay in the Sathupalli and Ramagundam open-cast mines in Telangana. The supply of these elements is projected to commence in August 2025.
Scandium is extensively utilized in aerospace parts, fuel cells, and athletic equipment, while strontium is employed in ceramics, magnets, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. This initiative has become increasingly urgent due to disruptions in the global supply chain and China’s prevailing position in the REE market, which represents 60 percent of production and 90 percent of processing.
India is now looking into alternative sources in Australia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to mitigate risks and establish a more varied critical minerals supply chain.
While scandium serves in aircraft manufacturing, fuel cells, and high-performance sports gear, strontium is used in alloys, ferrite ceramic magnets, healthcare applications, vacuum systems, and cathode-ray tubes.
Fact: China is responsible for approximately 60 percent of the world’s production of rare earth magnets and manages about 90 percent of the processing. These rare earth elements and refined minerals find extensive applications in industries such as heavy machinery, robotics, battery technology, and defense systems.
