Team News Riveting
Hyderabad, December 26
NMDC Limited, India’s largest iron ore producer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Colorado School of Mines (CSM), USA, to establish a long-term research collaboration aimed at advancing mining technologies, mineral processing, and the extraction of critical minerals, particularly from mining waste and complex ores.
The MoU was signed between NMDC’s R&D Centre, Hyderabad, and the Board of Trustees of Colorado School of Mines. The agreement was signed by Vinay Kumar, Director (Technical), NMDC, on behalf of NMDC.
This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in NMDC’s vision to integrate global best
practices, cutting-edge research, and emerging technologies into India’s mining ecosystem.
Under the MoU, NMDC and Colorado School of Mines will collaborate in key frontier areas including iron ore beneficiation and agglomeration; development of technologies for mining waste utilization; alternate ironmaking technologies using indigenous raw materials; and extraction of critical minerals, including rare earth elements. The partnership will also focus on technology-driven mining solutions such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), Mining 4.0, and autonomous systems including drones and self-driving vehicles.
A key highlight of the collaboration is its strong emphasis on sustainable mining and value creation from waste streams such as tailings, coal ash, and low-grade ores. This aligns with global efforts to reduce environmental impact while unlocking new sources of critical minerals essential for clean energy transitions, advanced manufacturing, and strategic industries.
Highlighting the significance of this MoU, Amitava Mukherjee, CMD, NMDC, said, “This collaboration marks a new chapter in advancing the extraction of critical minerals from mining waste. Through this MoU with the Colorado School of Mines, NMDC is strengthening its research capabilities and accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies in mining. Our larger goal is to make India self-reliant in critical minerals while ensuring sustainable and responsible mining practices.”
With India’s growing focus on securing critical mineral supply chains and deploying advanced mining technologies, the NMDC – Colorado School of Mines MoU represents a strategic international partnership that will contribute to technological innovation, capacity building, and the long-term sustainability of the Indian mining sector.
