Our goal is to build resilient, future-ready supply chains

Amitava Mukherjee, chairman and managing director, NMDC tells Himanshu Ojha about the Navratna company's strategy to blend domestic ambition with a global perspective. Edited excerpts

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Given India's push for self-reliance in critical minerals, what role do you envision NMDC playing in the rare earths value chain?

India's pursuit of self-reliance in critical minerals isn't just a strategic imperative, it's a defining opportunity to drive sustainable and inclusive growth. At NMDC, we see this moment as more than a transition, it's a chance to shape the next chapter of Indian mining with purpose, resilience and innovation.

With a legacy of leadership in iron ore, we're now expanding into critical minerals like lithium, cobalt and others that are essential for clean energy, electric mobility and advanced technologies. Our strategy blends domestic ambition with a global perspective, ramping up technology-led exploration at home while pursuing mineral assets in resource-rich geographies like Australia, Africa and South America. However, REEs [rare earth elements] specifically are not currently being pursued by NMDC.

The goal is clear: build resilient, future-ready supply chains and grow our international operations to contribute 5-10% of NMDC's overall revenue in the coming years.

By combining our technical expertise with sustainability, innovation and national service, NMDC is committed to creating a mining ecosystem that reflects the aspirations of a self-reliant, future-facing India.

How can India overcome processing and refining bottlenecks in the rare earth supply chain? Can NMDC contribute?