NLCIL and BARC Team Up to Turn Ash into Gold

NLC India Ltd. (NLCIL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to establish a pilot project at Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, for the extraction of rare earth elements (REEs) from fly ash—a by-product of thermal power generation.

The project, supported by BARC’s technical expertise, aims to tackle fly ash management while unlocking access to strategic materials critical for sectors such as clean energy, healthcare, electronics, advanced research, and national security.

NLCIL Chairman and Managing Director, Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, described the partnership as “a major step towards sustainable resource utilisation, a circular economy, and India’s self-reliance in critical minerals.”

REEs are vital for renewable energy technologies, medical devices, defence applications, and high-tech manufacturing, yet global supply chains remain highly concentrated. This indigenous initiative is designed to reduce import dependency and strengthen India’s strategic position in the global critical minerals market.

Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy hailed the collaboration as a significant advancement in environmental sustainability and mineral security for the nation.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.