RITES and Hindustan Copper Join Forces to Forge Sustainable Critical Mineral Supply Chains

By Metals Minerals Publication Last updated Jun 9, 2025 0

RITES Ltd entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL). The agreement aims to jointly develop a robust, self-reliant, and sustainable critical mineral supply chain in India. This strategic collaboration addresses the growing domestic need for essential minerals and seeks to reduce import dependency.

Strategic Purpose of the MoU

The agreement focuses on critical minerals—including copper—integral to industries such as green energy, defence, electronics, and infrastructure.
It seeks to build end-to-end supply chain capabilities within India to enhance resource security and ensure they are sourced, processed, and managed responsibly.

Expected Outcomes

Enhanced domestic capacity in critical mineral processing, refining, and logistics.
Import substitution, reducing heavy reliance on global suppliers, particularly for minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper.
Investor confidence boost, with market sentiment reflected in RITES’ stock movements following the announcement.

Alignment with National Objectives

The MoU supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, enhancing national self-reliance in essential mineral sources.
It advances India’s commitments under the Mineral Security Partnership and aligns with efforts to diversify supply chains and adopt sustainable, ESG-based practices.

Broader Context and Relevance

India has identified 30 critical minerals vital to its low-carbon energy transition and defence ecosystem.
Challenges like market volatility and dependence on limited global suppliers underscore the need for domestic resilience.
The RITES–HCL partnership mirrors other initiatives such as the IEA-backed recycling programs and mining deals like KABIL in Argentina to secure mineral flows responsibly.

Operational Impacts

RITES’s engineering excellence in logistics, transportation, and project management will reinforce HCL’s mineral operations.
Joint efforts might include shared infrastructure, exploration programs, refining capacities, and supply network planning—all designed with a sustainability-first mindset.