GMDC accelerates rare earth revolution

Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation unveiled ambitious plans at IME 2025 to pioneer India's first hard-rock rare-earth ecosystem, blending a fossil-fuel legacy with green mineral innovation to power the nation's EV and renewable energy surge.

- Swagat Ray General Manager - PP&D, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Limited

Please briefly introduce GMDC and outline its significance within the mining and mineral ecosystem.

We are Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Limited, more commonly known as GMDC Limited, a listed State Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Government of Gujarat. With over 60 years in the sector, our major portfolio has historically centred on lignite in Gujarat.

However, we are undergoing a significant transformation and strategic expansion. This includes entering the coal mining sector in Odisha, where we recently secured three coal blocks and plan to commence operations in the next financial year. Beyond coal and lignite, we mine bauxite and fluorspar and process secondary minerals such as silica sand, ball clay, and bentonite for value addition. We are also looking to utilise limestone, which is found as an overburden in our lignite mining operations.

A key development is the revival of the Ambaji multi-metal deposit in Gujarat, which will be the state's first underground mine. This asset holds a combination of lead, zinc, and copper, with copper expected to be the most significant value driver.