The Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Mines, is shifting its focus towards mining and beneficiation of copper ore, as well as the sale of copper concentrate. In line with this new direction, HCL has collaborated with the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) in Bhubaneswar, which hosts a Centre of Excellence (CoE) on critical minerals under the National Centre for Minerals and Materials (NCMM). This CoE is part of a network of R&D laboratories and industries that aims to develop indigenous technologies and pilot-scale solutions for securing the country’s critical mineral value chains.
As a key industrial partner of the CoE, HCL will facilitate industry-driven research, enabling the development of innovative solutions for the mining and minerals sector. The collaborative project between HCL and IMMT was formally launched, with the aim of gaining scientific insights into mineral occurrence, assessing the viability of recovery, and generating a roadmap for process development at a pilot scale. According to Dr. Kali Sanjay, Chief Scientist of IMMT CoE, the project will focus on establishing a deeper understanding of mineral occurrence, evaluating the feasibility of recovery, and creating a plan for process development.
The partnership between HCL and IMMT is expected to drive growth and development in the mining and minerals sector, while also contributing to the country’s self-sufficiency in critical minerals. With HCL’s expertise in copper mining and IMMT’s research capabilities, the collaboration is poised to yield significant benefits for the industry. The launch of the project was attended by Sanjiv Kumar Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of HCL, and Ramanuj Narayan, Director of IMMT, highlighting the importance of this initiative for the mining and minerals sector. Overall, the collaboration between HCL and IMMT is a significant step towards advancing the mining and minerals industry in India, and is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s economy and self-sufficiency in critical minerals.