The Rare Earth Alliance: NLCIL and IREL's Global Ambition

NLC India Limited (NLCIL) has entered into a strategic partnership with IREL (India) Limited to jointly explore and develop critical mineral assets, including rare earth elements (REE), both domestically and internationally.

The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on May 6, 2025, aimed at facilitating cooperation in the mining, extraction, refining, and sourcing of raw materials essential to strategic sectors. This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s policy push to empower public sector enterprises in securing critical mineral resources.

These minerals are vital to India’s technological progress and energy independence, supporting key industries such as renewable energy, electric mobility, defense, and electronics. Under the MoU, NLCIL and IREL will jointly identify and pursue opportunities to access and develop critical mineral assets, including overseas acquisitions.

This partnership represents a significant step in the Government of India’s broader strategy to establish a resilient and self-reliant supply chain for critical minerals, contributing to the nation’s ambition of becoming a global leader in manufacturing and clean energy.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.