Bhubaneswar, Oct 14 (IANS) The Odisha Mining Corporation Ltd (OMC), a wholly owned corporation of the Odisha government, on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), Hyderabad, under the Union government’s Department of Atomic Energy to collaborate on research and exploration of critical minerals in Odisha.

According to an official statement, the collaboration is aligned with the National Critical Mineral Mission, launched by the government of India, to ensure and secure a sustainable supply of critical minerals. The state government also noted in the official statement that OMC and AMD will collaborate in the fields of research, exchange of scientific and technical information, sharing of experience and expertise, and exploration of critical minerals within OMC’s mining leases and other areas in Odisha.

The National Critical Mineral Mission was launched by the Government of India in January 2025 to ensure and secure a sustainable supply of critical minerals (CMs), essential for India’s clean energy transition, technological advancement, and strategic sectors.

The National Critical Mineral Mission aims to reduce import dependency, strengthen domestic mineral value chains and enhance global competitiveness.

“The partnership aims to promote the adoption of modern exploration technologies, scientific studies, knowledge sharing, capacity building and joint research initiatives to accelerate the discovery and development of critical and strategic minerals in the State,” the statement further added.

This collaboration marks a significant step towards positioning Odisha as a leading hub for critical minerals and high-technology industries, while supporting India’s vision of self-reliance in critical mineral resources.

“The partnership underscores OMC’s commitment to technology-driven exploration, responsible mining, and the development of future-ready mineral resources to strengthen Odisha’s position as a leader in the critical minerals sector,” noted the state govt.

Notably, OMC stands as one of the largest mining companies in India. The major minerals mined by OMC are chrome, iron, bauxite, Manganese, and limestone ore, which cater to the requirements of mineral-based industries such as steel, aluminium, sponge iron, pig iron, ferro-manganese, ferro-chrome, etc.

–IANS

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