New Delhi, February 25 South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, has identified seven mine dumps for the potential extraction of rare earth elements, a top company official said.
SECL's initiative aligns with the government's push to unlock value from coal mine waste. Trace amounts of rare earth elements (REEs) have been detected in overburden dumps across major coalfields, potentially reducing import dependence.
SECL Chairman and Managing Director Harish Duhan said the tendering process for exploration has already begun, with plans to scientifically assess the dumps within the next year to pinpoint viable sites.
"Under the guidance of the Ministry of Coal, we have identified seven mine dumps for the extraction of rare earth elements. We have started the tendering process, and within a year or so, we will identify which area, which mine dumps, contain rare earth elements," Duhan told
