IREL (India) Limited: Unlocking India’s Strategic Mineral Wealth from Beach Sands

IREL (India) Limited, formerly known as Indian Rare Earths Limited, is a Government of India enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Established in 1950, the company plays a pivotal role in extracting rare earth elements (REEs) and strategic minerals from India’s vast and resource-rich coastal beach sands.

Headquartered in Mumbai, IREL is a key player in the global rare earths market and a cornerstone of India’s strategic mineral security, enabling the growth of clean energy, high-tech electronics, and defense manufacturing.

What Does IREL Do?

IREL specializes in the mining and processing of beach sand minerals (BSM)—a complex mixture containing valuable elements essential for high-technology and defense applications.

Key Activities:

• Mining of beach placer deposits

• Separation and beneficiation of heavy minerals from sand

• Extraction of rare earth elements (REEs)

• Production of high-purity oxides and compounds from rare earths

• Research and development on advanced materials

Key Minerals Extracted by IREL

1. Ilmenite – Used for titanium dioxide production

2. Rutile – Source of titanium metal and pigments

3. Zircon – Essential for ceramics, nuclear reactors

4. Sillimanite – Used in refractories

5. Monazite – A phosphate mineral rich in rare earths and thorium, a potential nuclear fuel

6. Garnet and Leucoxene – Used in abrasives and paints

7. Rare Earth Elements (REEs) – Crucial for magnets, electronics, EVs, wind turbines, and defense tech

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Operational Facilities

IREL operates several major plants and mining units across India’s coastal regions, including:

Strategic Importance of IREL

India’s dependence on critical minerals is rising sharply due to the expansion of renewable energy, electric vehicles, semiconductors, and defense manufacturing. Rare earths and titanium group minerals—IREL’s core outputs—are vital for national security and technological progress.

Strategic Roles of IREL:

• Supplies rare earth oxides to Indian industries

• Supports Department of Atomic Energy with thorium resources

• Reduces India’s reliance on Chinese REE imports

• Helps in critical mineral resource mapping and development

• Promotes Make in India through indigenous raw material supply

Recent Initiatives and Projects

• IREL Expansion Projects:

  • New mining leases and processing units planned in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu

  • Capacity expansion of ilmenite and monazite processing

• Rare Earth Refinement:

  • Establishing facilities to extract high-purity REEs, especially Neodymium, Dysprosium, and Samarium, used in EVs and wind turbines

• Thorium Utilization Support:

  • Monazite from beach sands is India’s primary source of thorium, key to future nuclear reactors

• Joint Ventures and R&D:

  • Collaboration with BARC, DAE, and IITs for rare earth separation technology and value addition

  • Developing downstream applications like magnets and alloys

Sustainability and Social Commitment

IREL is committed to eco-friendly mining and community development in coastal areas. Key sustainability efforts include:

• Restoration of mined land and afforestation

• Radiation monitoring and safety in monazite handling

• CSR activities in education, healthcare, water, and sanitation

• Employing local talent and uplifting rural and tribal populations