Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), a government-owned coal mining company, is set to begin extracting and supplying scandium and strontium from mine waste at its Sathupalli and Ramagundam open-cast coal mines starting August, according to a CNBC-TV18 report. The initiative aligns with a national directive requiring all Indian mines to assess overburden, tailings, and other waste materials for critical minerals.
According to SCCL Chairman and Managing Director N. Balram, studies conducted by the government-run Non-ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC) have identified approximately 1 kilogram of scandium and strontium per 15 tonnes of clay at the sites. The effort forms part of a broader strategy to extract rare earth elements (REEs) from mining waste, thereby improving resource utilisation in ongoing and future operations.
Scandium is primarily used in aerospace components, solid oxide fuel cells, and certain sports equipment. Strontium finds applications in alloy production, ceramic magnets, medical imaging technologies, and electronics.
This initiative is part of the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), which promotes the recovery of critical minerals through recycling and circular economy measures to strengthen domestic supply chains. The mineral waste testing program is being extended beyond coal to sectors such as petroleum and others.
Earlier this year, India reclassified minerals such as barytes, feldspar, mica, and quartz from minor to major minerals. This change mandates leaseholders to declare and assess the presence of critical minerals within mining leases, a requirement that did not exist under the previous classification.
Government sources have stated that India is actively seeking alternative sources of rare earth elements to mitigate global supply chain risks, especially given export restrictions imposed by China. China currently processes around 90 percent of the global REE supply and accounts for approximately 60 percent of global rare earth magnet production. According to the US Geological Survey, India holds an estimated 6.9 million tonnes of rare earth deposits, ranking third globally after China and Brazil.
An inter-ministerial meeting held earlier this month brought together officials from multiple ministries to discuss strategies for strengthening the rare earth supply chain—from mining and refining to end-use applications.
Singareni Collieries Company Limited is a government-owned coal mining company headquartered in Telangana, India. It operates a range of open-cast and underground mines and is engaged in the exploration, production, and supply of coal and related materials.
