State-owned mining company Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and engineering consultancy major Engineers India Limited (EIL) have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly explore opportunities in the copper and rare earth elements (REE) sector, marking a strategic step towards strengthening India’s critical minerals ecosystem.
The agreement brings together Hindustan Copper’s expertise in mineral exploration, mining and resource development with Engineers India’s capabilities in project engineering, technology solutions and infrastructure execution. The partnership will focus on identifying and developing projects across the copper and rare earth value chain, sectors that have gained strategic importance amid the global push for clean energy technologies, electric mobility and advanced manufacturing.
Under the collaboration, the two public sector enterprises will examine opportunities related to mineral processing, beneficiation, extraction technologies, downstream value addition and the development of associated infrastructure. The partnership may also support the evaluation of new mining assets and processing facilities required to enhance domestic availability of critical minerals.
Copper remains a key raw material for power transmission networks, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, electronics and industrial manufacturing. At the same time, rare earth elements have emerged as essential inputs for permanent magnets, wind turbines, batteries, semiconductors, defence systems and a range of high-technology applications.
India has been intensifying efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains and reduce dependence on imports for strategically important resources. The collaboration between HCL and EIL aligns with these national objectives by supporting the development of indigenous capabilities in exploration, extraction, processing and value-added manufacturing.
The agreement is expected to facilitate technical studies, project identification and the assessment of commercially viable opportunities in both domestic and international markets. It also reflects growing efforts by public sector enterprises to build integrated capabilities across the critical minerals sector, which is increasingly viewed as a cornerstone of future industrial and energy security.
As demand for copper and rare earth elements continues to rise globally, driven by the energy transition and digital technologies, the partnership is expected to help accelerate the development of projects that can support India’s long-term resource security and industrial growth ambitions.