By Rootsalert News Desk|25-Febraury-2026

In a strategic shift toward mineral security, SECL begins the hunt for critical Rare Earth Elements (REEs) hidden within coal overburden across Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh

 In what could be a transformative chapter for India’s mining sector, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a premier subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, has officially set its sights on a new kind of treasure. The company has identified seven massive coal mine overburden dumps to explore the extraction of Rare Earth Elements (REEs)—the “industrial vitamins” essential for the global high-tech and green energy revolution.

The move marks a significant pivot for a company traditionally defined by “black gold.” By looking into the waste materials—or overburden—discarded during coal mining, SECL is attempting to turn environmental liabilities into strategic assets. This initiative is not merely a corporate project but a vital cog in India’s broader mission to achieve self-reliance in critical minerals, a domain currently dominated by a handful of global players, most notably China.

Speaking on the development, SECL Chairman and Managing Director Harish Duhan confirmed that the tendering process for exploration has already commenced. The objective is clear: to conduct rigorous scientific assessments over the next twelve months to pinpoint which of the identified sites hold commercially viable concentrations of REEs.

“Under the guidance of the Ministry of Coal, we have identified seven mine dumps for potential rare earth elements extraction,” Duhan told reporters. “We have started the tendering process, and within a year or so, we will be able to identify specifically which areas and which overburden dumps carry these vital elements.”

Rare Earth Elements are a group of 17 minerals used in everything from smartphone screens and electric vehicle (EV) motors to sophisticated defense systems and wind turbines. As India pushes toward its 2070 Net Zero commitments, the demand for these minerals is expected to skyrocket. Currently, India remains heavily dependent on imports for REEs, leaving its high-tech supply chain vulnerable to geopolitical shifts.

The identified dumps are spread across SECL’s operational heartlands in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. For decades, the “overburden”—the soil and rock removed to access coal seams—has been piled into massive artificial hills. Recent preliminary studies suggested that these dumps may contain trace amounts of REEs that were previously ignored.

The upcoming exploration phase will involve advanced geophysical and geochemical techniques to map the mineral density within these dumps. If the concentrations prove sufficient, SECL plans to transition from exploration to pilot extraction projects. This “waste-to-wealth” approach serves a dual purpose: it provides a domestic source of critical minerals and offers a way to manage the environmental footprint of large-scale coal mining.

A Strategic Shield

Industry analysts view this as a proactive step by the Ministry of Coal to diversify India’s mineral portfolio. In a world where the race for “green minerals” is becoming as intense as the race for oil once was, securing a domestic supply of REEs is a matter of national security.

The global supply chain for rare earths is notoriously opaque and concentrated. By leveraging the existing infrastructure of the coal industry, India is looking for a shortcut to mineral independence. If SECL’s venture proves successful, it could provide a blueprint for other Coal India subsidiaries like MCL and NCL to follow suit, potentially turning India’s vast coal belts into “critical mineral hubs.”

Looking Ahead

While the scientific community cautions that extracting REEs from coal waste is technically complex and requires high precision, the leadership at SECL remains optimistic. The next year will be crucial as geologists and mineralogists sift through the data.

As the world pivots toward a low-carbon future, the irony is not lost on observers: the very industry that fueled the industrial age—coal—may now provide the essential ingredients for the green technology age. For SECL and India, these seven mine dumps represent more than just earth and rock; they represent a potential foundation for a more secure, self-reliant technological future.