Hindustan Power announced that a group firm has been awarded a Letter of Intent for exploration of the Padhar Platinum Group Elements (PGE) block in Madhya Pradesh, marking the group's entry into India's critical minerals sector. The company said the award followed a forward e-auction conducted by the Union Ministry of Mines in which the firm was declared the preferred bidder. The development was described as a strategic step to build domestic capacity for minerals needed in advanced industrial and energy applications. The Padhar block spans approximately 200 square km and has been identified as a prospective zone for platinum group elements and associated zinc deposits. Platinum group elements include platinum, palladium and rhodium, which the company highlighted as important for technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, emission control systems and electrolyzers used in green hydrogen production. Zinc was noted as useful for galvanization, battery technologies and corrosion protection for renewable energy infrastructure. Hindustan Power said the exploration complements its ongoing resource and clean energy initiatives. The group is developing two high-grade coal mines in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to strengthen its conventional mining presence while accelerating a clean energy portfolio through solar and storage projects. The firm cited a recent 435 Megawatt-peak (MWp) solar project in Uttar Pradesh and multiple grid-scale solar and battery storage developments secured in 2025 as evidence of this transition. The company indicated that the move into critical minerals aims to support supply chain security and India’s broader priorities for self-reliant manufacturing and energy leadership. Hindustan Power framed the exploration as a disciplined and responsible approach to resource development that will support both conventional power stability and rapid growth of clean energy systems. The group said it will pursue the exploration with attention to environmental and regulatory best practice while seeking to build a reliable domestic resource base.