Page 130 - CW E-Magazine (19-8-2025)

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COLLABORATION
Oil India-IREL and GAIL-Hindustan Copper ink

separate MoUs for critical mineral development

Oil India Ltd. (OIL) and IREL
(India) Ltd. recently signed a Memoran-
dum of Understanding (MoU) in
Mumbai to cooperate and collaborate
for the development of critical minerals.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Ranjan
Goswami, Executive Director (Business
Development), OIL, and Mr. Ravi
Prakash Jha, General Manager (Pro-
jects), IREL, in the presence of OIL
Chairman and Managing Director
Mr. Ranjit Rath and IREL Chairman
and Managing Director Mr. Sarada
Bhushan Mohanty.

The collaboration is part of the
government’s National Critical Mineral
Mission. Both companies have been
identifi ed as participating PSUs under
the mission.

Oil India has diversifi ed into the
critical minerals space in addition to its
existing oil and gas operations. IREL,
under the Department of Atomic Energy,
is engaged in mining and processing
of mineral sands, including the extrac-
tion and refi ning of rare earth elements.
The two companies will work together
to secure strategic mineral resources
that are crucial for India’s energy Director (Business Development and able energy, electric mobility, electro-
security and technological growth. Exploration & Production), GAIL and nics manufacturing, and other advanced
Mr. Binod Kumar Gupta, Executive technologies.
GAIL (India), Hindustan Copper to Director (Mining)-Resource Planning,
partner HCL signed the MoU in the presence Critical minerals, which include
In another development, GAIL of Mr. R.K. Singhal, Director (Business copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth
(India) Ltd. and Hindustan Copper Ltd. Development), GAIL and Mr. Sanjeev elements, are essential for manufactur-
(HCL) have signed a Memorandum of K. Singh, Chairman and Managing ing batteries, solar panels, wind tur-
Understanding (MoU) to collaborate Director, HCL. bines, and various electronics. India
on the exploration and development of currently imports a signifi cant portion
critical mineral resources in India and The collaboration is expected to of these resources from China, making
overseas. enhance India’s capacity to source, domestic exploration and production
process and utilise critical minerals crucial for long-term energy security
Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, Executive that are key to sectors such as renew- and industrial growth.

130 Chemical Weekly August 19, 2025

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