South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (Coal India), has identified seven mine dumps for potential extraction of rare earth elements (REEs). The initiative aligns with the government push to unlock value from coal mine waste and to reduce import dependence for critical minerals. SECL said trace REEs have been detected in overburden dumps across major coalfields, prompting a focused exploration effort.

SECL's chairman and managing director stated that the tendering process for exploration has begun and that the company plans to carry out scientific assessments within one year to pinpoint viable sites. The company will undertake detailed studies to determine the presence and economic viability of REEs in overburden materials that are typically discarded during coal mining. The assessment phase is intended to filter locations suitable for pilot extraction projects.

The identification process targets mine dumps in SECL's operational areas in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and will employ advanced geophysical and geochemical techniques. Following the scientific surveys, SECL expects to finalise the most promising sites and to proceed to pilot testing where technical and commercial feasibility can be validated. If pilots prove viable, the company envisages scaling up to commercial operations subject to regulatory and market considerations.

Rare earth elements are critical inputs for high technology industries including electronics, renewable energy and defence, which has made them a strategic priority for India amid global supply chain risks concentrated in China. SECL's effort forms part of a wider national push to develop domestic sources of critical minerals and to support manufacturing for electric vehicles, renewables and defence systems. The company indicated that systematic exploration of coal mine waste could contribute to resource security and to value creation from existing mining operations.