Rare earth elements found in Singrauli coalfields; extraction viability under study
G Kishan Reddy
on Monday informed Parliament that promising reserves of
rare earth elements
(REE) have been discovered in the
Singrauli coalfields
of Madhya Pradesh, following detailed research and appraisal by
Coal India Ltd
(CIL).
REEs — including elements like scandium and yttrium — are essential components in clean energy systems, electronics, electric vehicles and other critical industrial technologies.
"Results from appraisal of Gondwana sediments (coal, clay, shale, sandstone) for trace elements and REE concentration in the Singrauli coalfield indicate that REE are 'promising' in nature, with an enrichment of 250 ppm on a whole coal basis in coal samples and 400 ppm in non-coal samples," Reddy stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, as quoted PTI.
However, he added that commercial extraction would depend on technological advances and economies of scale.
Assessment from the North Eastern Region coalfields showed that while total REE presence is low, the content of heavy REEs is relatively higher. Reddy also said that indigenous technology development is underway to extract critical minerals — including REEs — from the overburden strata of these coalfields.
The project aims to develop enrichment techniques using physical separations and ion-exchange resin-based extraction from non-coal strata and acid mine drainage.
To support this initiative, the
Singareni Collieries Company Limited
(SCCL) has signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the
Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology
(IMMT), Bhubaneswar; the Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC), Hyderabad; and IIT Hyderabad, Reddy said.
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