SECL to Explore Rare Earth Elements

Coal India===South Eastern Coalfields (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, has identified seven mine dumps in India===Chhattisgarh and India===Madhya Pradesh for potential extraction of rare earth elements (REEs). This initiative aligns with India's strategic priority to achieve self-reliance in critical minerals, which are essential for high-tech industries such as electronics, renewable energy, and defense. Harish Duhan, SECL's Chairman and Managing Director, announced that the tendering process for exploration has begun, with scientific assessments planned within the next year to pinpoint viable sites. The goal is to reduce India's import dependence on REEs, a market currently dominated by China, by unlocking value from coal mine waste.