Bhubaneswar: In a key step toward strengthening India’s self-reliance in critical minerals, Oil India Limited (OIL), a Maharatna public sector company, has signed an MoU with the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT) in Bhubaneswar.
The pact was inked by Director (Exploration & Development) of OIL Saloma Yomdo and Director of CSIR-IMMT Ramanuj Narayan in the presence of Chairman and Managing Director of OIL Ranjit Rath. Senior functional directors and officials from OIL, along with leading scientists from CSIR-IMMT including Kali Sanjay and Satyajit Rath, witnessed the signing.
With this agreement, OIL has become the first “Industry Spoke” from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to partner with CSIR-IMMT, which has been designated as the country’s largest Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) by the Ministry of Mines. The collaboration is expected to support the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat by fostering resear
ch, technology development, and industrial application in the critical minerals sector, an official release said.
Speaking on the occasion, Rath said the partnership would significantly enhance OIL’s role under the National Critical Mineral Mission, extending beyond critical minerals exploration. He noted that OIL has already secured two critical mineral blocks — the Phop Graphite-Vanadium CL Block in Arunachal Pradesh and the Jorkian Potash Block in Rajasthan. “CSIR-IMMT will provide crucial support in mineral processing and beneficiation studies for these assets,” he said.
He further highlighted the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in identifying critical mineral resources, adding that OIL has shortlisted ten focus areas in consultation with the Director General of CSIR.
Narayan emphasised that CSIR-IMMT brings deep expertise in both fundamental research and technology-driven solutions for the mining, minerals, and metals sectors, with a strong focus on critical minerals and sustainable development practices.
The National Critical Mineral Mission, announced in the Union Budget 2024–25, seeks to secure India’s critical mineral supply chain through increased domestic production, recycling, and strategic overseas acquisitions. Centres of Excellence like CSIR-IMMT are expected to work closely with industry and R&D institutions to translate research into actionable outcomes for exploration and processing.