**Policy Summary: Critical Mineral Recovery from Coal Mine Waste and Coal Ash**
The Ministry of Coal is actively pursuing the recovery of critical and rare earth elements (REE) from coal mine waste and coal ash. Analysis of samples from Singareni Thermal Power Plant (STPP) indicates a total REE concentration of approximately 400 ppm in fly ash and clays. Further analysis of samples from NLC India Limited at Neyveli revealed a REE concentration of 2100 mg/kg in fly ash, including a Yttrium content of 300 mg/kg.
The Government approved the establishment of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) on January 29, 2025, with a budget of ₹100 crore allocated for pilot projects focused on critical mineral recovery from overburden, tailings, fly ash, and red mud during the period 2024-25 to 2030-31. Guidelines for establishing the Centre of Excellence (CoE) under NCMM were approved on April 6, 2025.
Coal India Limited (CIL) has undertaken several Research & Development (R&D) projects:
1. Assessment of REE and other economic resources from the North Eastern Region (NER) Coalfield indicates low total REE, but relatively high Heavy REE content.
2. Appraisal of Gondwana Sediments (Coal, Clay, Shale, Sandstone) in the Singrauli coalfield indicates promising REE enrichment of 250 ppm in coal samples and 400 ppm in non-coal samples. Economical extraction is contingent on technical advancements and economy of scale.
3. Development of indigenous technology for critical mineral extraction, including REE, from overlying strata of North eastern coalfields, focusing on enrichment and extraction techniques via physical separation and Ion-Exchange Resin.
The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar; Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC), Hyderabad; and IIT, Hyderabad for collaborative research in this area.
This information was released by the Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on July 28, 2025. Release ID: 2149191.
Key Entities Referenced
Singareni Thermal Power Plant STPP: A thermal power plant where coal-derived fly ash and bottom ash samples were collected and analyzed for trace elements and Rare Earth Elements (REE).
NLC India Limited: A company whose mines and thermal power plants at Neyveli were analyzed for Rare Earth Elements (REE) and trace elements.
Neyveli, Tamil Nadu: A location where overburden, lignite, and fly ash samples were collected from mines and thermal power plants of NLC India Limited for analysis.
National Critical Mineral Mission NCMM: A government-approved mission established on 29.01.2025, for the period from 2024-25 to 2030-31, focused on the recovery of critical minerals.
Coal India Limited CIL: A company that has undertaken Research & Development (RD) projects related to rare earth elements found in coal mine waste.
North Eastern Region NER Coalfield: A coalfield where assessment of Rare Earth Elements (REE) and other economic resources was conducted.
Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh: A coalfield where appraisal of Gondwana Sediments (Coal, Clay, Shale, Sandstone) for Trace Elements (REE) concentration was conducted.
The Singareni Collieries Company Limited SCCL: A company that has signed MoUs with various institutes for research in the field of rare earth elements and mineral technology.
Ministry of Coal
Critical Minerals in Coal Mine Waste and Coal Ash
Posted On: 28 JUL 2025 12:47PM by PIB Delhi
The coal-derived fly ash and bottom ash samples collected from Singareni Thermal Power Plant (STPP) and
overburden clay samples have been analyzed for trace elements and Rare Earth Elements (REE) and results
show that the total REE in fly ash and clays is about 400 ppm.
Further, overburden, lignite and fly ash samples, collected from mines and thermal power plants of NLC India
Limited at Neyveli, were also analyzed for Rare Earth Element (REE) and trace elements. It was found that
fly ash from thermal power plant contains a concentration of REE (2100 mg/kg) comprising of both lighter &
heavier REE with Yttrium content of 300 mg/kg.
The Government has approved establishment of National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) on 29.01.2025,
for the period from 2024–25 to 2030–31. Under the Mission, ₹100 crore has been allocated for pilot projects
focused on recovery of critical minerals from sources such as overburden, tailings, fly ash, and red mud.
Additionally, guidelines for establishing the Centre of Excellence (CoE) under NCMM have been approved
on 06.04.2025.
Coal India Limited (CIL) has undertaken the following Research & Development (R&D) projects related to
rare earth elements found in coal mine waste:
1. Results from assessment of REE and other economic resources from the North Eastern Region (NER)
Coalfield, indicate that total REE is low, but Heavy REE contents are relatively high.
2. Results from appraisal of Gondwana Sediments (Coal, Clay, Shale, Sandstone) for Trace Elements & 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 & ~400 ppm in Non-Coal samples). However, the
economical extraction of the REE is subject to technical advancement and economy of scale.
3. Development of indigenous technology for extraction of critical minerals, including REE, from overlying
strata of North eastern coalfields has been undertaken with an objective to develop (i) enrichment technique of
critical metals from non-coal strata by physical separations and (ii) extraction technique of critical metals
from non-coal strata and Acid mine drainage by Ion-Exchange Resin.
The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has signed MoUs with Institute of Minerals and Materials
Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar; Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC),
Hyderabad; and IIT, Hyderabad for research in this field.
This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in
Rajya Sabha today.
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Shahid T Komnath
(Release ID: 2149191)