NMDC and Colorado School of Mines sign MoU for research collaboration on advanced mining technologies and critical mineral extraction

Public sector miner National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) has signed an MoU with the Colorado School of Mines, USA, to establish a long-term research collaboration aimed at advancing mining technologies, mineral processing and the extraction of critical minerals, particularly from mining waste and complex ores. The MoU was signed between NMDC’s R&D Centre, Hyderabad, and the Board of Trustees of Colorado School of Mines CSM). Director (Technical) Vinay Kumar signed the MoU on behalf of NMDC. NMDC and CSM intend to collaborate in key frontier areas, including iron ore beneficiation and agglomeration; development of technologies for mining waste utilisation; alternate ironmaking technologies using indigenous raw materials; and extraction of critical minerals, including rare earth elements. The partnership will also focus on technology-driven mining solutions such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Internet of Things, Mining 4.0 and autonomous systems, including drones and self-driving vehicles, NMDC said in a release on Friday. Sustainable mining and value creation from waste streams such as tailings, coal ash, and low-grade ores will be a strong emphasis of the collaboration. “Through this MoU, NMDC is strengthening its research capabilities and accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies in mining,” CMD Amitava Mukherjee said. Published - December 26, 2025 09:33 pm IST

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