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RULE CHANGE found on the Earth’s crust within various Currently, in India, the IREL – under rare earth group elements along coastal/
Government tightens control on offshore atomic minerals and deposits. They are not typi- DAE – is the only agency which is into inland/riverine placer sands, as well as
cally found in isolation, but rather as com-
mining, processing, and sale of rare in hard rock terrains in several poten-
minerals with new licensing rules ponents of other minerals, such as mona- earth element oxides. tial geological domains in the country,”
said Mr. Reddy. Additionally, the Geo-
zite, bastnasite, and xenotime. These are
minerals found in both hard rock deposits – “The Atomic Minerals Directorate logical Survey of India (GSI) has aug-
The government has announced exploration, and production of atomic rity clearance from ministries including cabonatites and alkaline igneous rocks – for Exploration and Research (AMD), mented 482.6-mt resources of REE ore
sweeping regulations governing explo- minerals – defi ned as those containing defence, home, and environment. and weathered deposits like ion absorp- a constituent unit of DAE, is carrying at various cut-off grades in 34 explora-
ration and production of atomic mine- uranium, thorium, and other radio- Under the rules, exploration will be tion clays and mineral sands. out exploration and augmentation of tion projects, the Minister added.
rals in offshore areas. The rules entail elements critical to India’s nuclear allowed without a license, but only for
government oversight over strategic programme. notifi ed government agencies. FUTURE PLANS
resources such as uranium and thorium, Hindustan Zinc secures govt. approval for potash block
amid rising concerns over nuclear The DAE and the Atomic Energy Any later discovery of atomic mine-
energy security and geopolitical risks. Regulatory Board (AERB) will serve rals above threshold grades, as defi ned in Rajasthan; seeks partners to scale critical mineral
as the nodal oversight agencies, ensur- in alignment with the Atomic Mineral
Foreign fi rms are barred from ing compliance with radiological safety Concession Rules, 2016, must be re- exploration
exploration activities unless specifi c and strategic protocols. “Only central ported to the Directorate of Atomic
relaxations are made; while state-owned government agencies, state-owned Minerals Exploration and Research Hindustan Zinc Ltd., a Vedanta Talks advance with global fi rms “We are open to neodymium
entities or government nominated ones enterprises, or government-nominated (AMD). There is a possibility that Group company and leading zinc pro- The company said it has initiated extraction for rare earth magnet making;
will be allowed. companies can be awarded compo- post such reportage, there could be ducer, said it has received letter of discussions with 6 to 8 global fi rms but we will have to fi rst determine the
site licenses or mining leases in such immediate reservation of the block for intent (LoI) from the Ministry of Mines to carry out exploration and mapping reserves and their commercial viability,
The Ministry of Mines, in coordi- zones,” the rules state. national use. for one of the fi rst potash blocks in the activities across three of its critical before tech tie-ups are explored,” he
nation with the Department of Atomic country. The company secured the block mineral blocks covering REE in UP, said. “We are in talks with global entities
Energy (DAE), notifi ed the “Offshore These new rules replace earlier Crucially, the government reserves under Tranche V of e-auction by the potash in Rajasthan and tungsten in AP. to tap into these blocks for exploration
Area Atomic Minerals Concession frameworks and create a detailed legal the right to revoke or deny licenses if Central Government in the month of and feasibility studies,” Misra added.
Rules, 2025” recently. The new rules regime for the grant of exploration and discoveries are deemed strategically May 2025. Global tenders have been fl oated
will regulate the award of explora- production rights of atomic minerals sensitive or exceed the threshold grade. and fi nalisation of one or multiple enti- According to him, de-risking is
tion licenses and production leases for found in offshore areas. The Central Government has been em- Hindustan Zinc had recently also ties is likely by September, according being carried out with the company’s
atomic minerals in the country’s terri- powered to directly acquire such sites. received LoI from the UP government to Arun Misra, the company’s MD and upcoming fertiliser plant of around 0.5-
torial waters and Exclusive Economic Exploration licences In such cases, compensation to original for a Rare Earth Elements (REE) block. CEO. million tonnes (mt) per annum at Chan-
Zone (EEZ). Foreign fi rms are effectively barred explorers may be provided based With this, the company has now secured deriya in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan
from direct participation unless sub- on incurred expenses, a mechanism three critical mineral blocks, including He said a decision on cost and busi- expected to operational soon.
The new framework establishes contracted under highly restrictive expected to deter speculative activity the tungsten and associated minerals ness cases will be decided once feasi-
strict conditions for reconnaissance, guidelines, and only with prior secu- by private parties. block in Andhra Pradesh. These LoIs bility studies are through. A minimum The allotment of the potash block
grant Hindustan Zinc a composite of two years is being looked at, before would help fertiliser production, he
SECURING SUPPLIES licence, which includes rights for both detailed fi ndings are made available. said.
prospecting and mining.
Over 8.5-mt of rare earth mineable reserves across Rajoo Engineers to raise Rs. 180-crore
The newly awarded potash block
States: Government is located in the Hanumangarh district via QIP for inorganic growth
of Rajasthan, covering an area of over
India holds 7.23-million tonnes (mt) 1.29-mt of rare earth element oxide oxide (REO) contained in 13.15-mt 1,800 hectares. Rajoo Engineers, a manufacturer of the company will utilise Rs. 160-crore
of rare earth elements oxide (REO) in has been found in hard rock deposits of monazite, a mineral of thorium (10 plastic extrusion machinery, plans to for inorganic expansion to accelerate
13.15-mt of monazite deposits across in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The numbers percent ThO ) and rare earths (55 per- Potash is a key mineral in the ferti- raise Rs. 180-crore through Qualifi ed growth, and the remaining proceeds
2
Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, are now signifi cantly higher than the cent REO) occurring in coastal beach, liser industry used to produce NPK ferti- Institutional Placement (QIP). will be allocated for general corporate
Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, earlier estimates of 6.99-mt. Incentive teri/red sand and inland alluvium,” lisers. At present, India imports 100% of purposes, it stated.
Gujarat and Maharashtra, G.K. Reddy, schemes are also being worked out to the Minister informed. “As per DAE potash primarily from Canada, Belarus, The company has informed that
Union Minister of Mines, informed aid processing of these minerals. (Department of Atomic Energy), mining Jordan, and South Korea. The successful its board has approved the issuance of The company specialises in blown
the Rajya Sabha recently. is feasible for these resources,” he added. auction of the country’s fi rst potash & equity shares at a fl oor price of Rs. 114.42 fi lm lines, sheet extrusion lines, thermo-
“[There are] 7.23-mt approxi- halite blocks marks a major step towards per share. Its share price closed at Rs. 131 forming machines and PVC pipe extrusion
According to him, an additional mately of in-situ rare earth elements Rare earth elements are primarily self-reliance in fertiliser minerals. on July 14. Of the overall proceeds, solutions.

142 Chemical Weekly July 29, 2025 Chemical Weekly July 29, 2025 143

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