Hyderabad: “Critical minerals are not just industrial raw materials; they are the foundation of a green economy,” said Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu during the inaugural session of the Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Hub (AICMRH) workshop at IIT Hyderabad on Friday.
This two-day event, organised in collaboration with Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, brings together researchers, academics and industry leaders to foster advancements in sustainable mining practices and renewable energy solutions with a special focus on critical minerals.
At the event, IIT Hyderabad and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) signed a memorandum of understanding for joint research on sustainable mining methods, resource efficiency and innovations in critical mineral exploration and recycling.
SCCL chairman and managing director Balaram Naik stated, “Partnering with IIT Hyderabad opens new avenues for innovation and development in mining practices. Together, we aim to set new benchmarks in sustainability and resource efficiency.”
The workshop focused on the pivotal role of critical minerals in developing renewable energy technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries. Telangana, through its clean and green energy policy, aims to generate 20,000 MW of renewable energy by 2030 and develop green hydrogen as the fuel of the future.
Present at the event were Hilary McGeachy, Australian consul general in Bengaluru, Gopal Baglay, high commissioner of India to Australia and Dinesh Muhar, joint secretary, Union mines ministry. Plenary and keynote talks by global experts set the stage for discussions that will culminate in a roadmap for collaborative research between Australia and India.
The workshop is also supported by funding under the SPARC scheme, aimed at promoting research collaborations in critical minerals. The AICMRH initiative aligns with India’s National Education Policy (NEP-2020) and Australia’s ARCH-India framework, focusing on sustainable mineral exploration, processing, and recycling.
