Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) and National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore strategic collaboration in the rare-earth elements (REE) sector. The agreement aims to jointly assess, develop and utilise rare-earth resources in India, strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on imports for critical minerals.
The MoU was signed by GMDC Managing Director Roopwant Singh Bedi and NMDC Director (Technical) Amitava Mukherjee in the presence of senior officials from both companies. The partnership will focus on identifying potential rare-earth deposits, conducting joint exploration, sharing technical expertise, and evaluating opportunities for processing, beneficiation and value-added production of rare-earth oxides and compounds.
Rare-earth elements are essential for high-technology industries including electric vehicles, wind turbines, defence electronics, permanent magnets, renewable energy systems and advanced batteries. India currently imports a significant portion of its REE requirements, making domestic development a strategic priority under the National Critical Minerals Mission.
GMDC brings strong experience in mineral exploration and mining in Gujarat, while NMDC, India’s largest iron ore producer, has recently expanded into critical minerals with projects in REE, lithium, titanium and graphite. The collaboration is expected to combine their complementary strengths to accelerate REE projects and support India’s self-reliance goals in strategic minerals.
Both companies described the MoU as a step toward building long-term capabilities in rare-earth value chains. They emphasised that the partnership will promote technology transfer, skill development and sustainable mining practices while contributing to national security and economic growth.
The agreement is part of broader efforts by Indian PSUs to secure critical mineral resources domestically and position the country as a reliable global supplier of processed rare-earth products in the future.
