In A Historic Shift, India Opens Uranium Mining to Private Sector

India is poised to make a historic shift in its nuclear energy strategy by allowing private firms to mine, import, and process uranium—ending a decades-old state monopoly, said a report by Reuters.

Key Highlights of the Policy Shift

• Private Sector Entry: Companies can now mine, import, and supply control systems for nuclear plants.
• State Retains Core Control: Government will manage spent fuel reprocessing and plutonium waste.
• Timeline: Policy expected to be announced in FY26.

Nuclear Expansion Goals

Metric	Current Status	2047 Target
Nuclear Power Capacity	8.8 GW	100 GW
Share of Electricity from Nuclear	~2%	5%
Uranium Demand Coverage (Domestic)	~25%	Remainder to be imported

Implications for Industry & Investment

• Legal Overhaul: Amendments needed in mining, electricity, and FDI laws.
• Foreign Participation: Minority stakes in nuclear plants to be allowed.
• Corporate Interest: Indian conglomerates preparing investment plans.

Global Context

Countries like Canada, South Africa, and the United States already allow private firms to mine and process uranium, offering international precedents for India’s move.

This shift is part of Prime Minister Modi’s broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, aiming to make nuclear energy a cornerstone of India’s clean energy and energy security strategy.

Adani’s Natural Resources Division is India's 1st to Deploy Hydrogen-powered Truck for Mining Logistics

• The first truck is deployed at the Chhattisgarh government’s mine, more to follow
• Trucks with three hydrogen tanks will carry 40 ton of cargo for 200 KMs of range

Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the Adani Group, flagged off India’s first hydrogen fuel cell truck to promote cleaner transportation. These hydrogen-powered trucks will gradually replace diesel vehicles used in the company's logistics operations.

On May 10, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai flagged off the first truck in Raipur. It will be used to transport coal from the Gare Pelma III Block to the state’s power plant.

"The launch of India's first hydrogen-powered truck in Chhattisgarh reflects the state's commitment to sustainability. Such initiatives will significantly reduce our carbon footprint and set a new standard for industry. Chhattisgarh is not only at the forefront in meeting the country's electricity demands but also leads by example in adopting sustainable practices," said Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai.

The state-owned Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited has appointed Adani Enterprises as the mine developer and operator for the Gare Pelma III block through a competitive bidding process.

The initiative for hydrogen-powered trucks is a significant step towards Adani Group's commitment to decarbonization and responsible mining. We are creating model mines with minimal environmental impact by incorporating autonomous dozer push technologies, solar power, digital initiatives, and tree transplanters to relocate trees. We aim to ensure affordable and reliable electricity for all while pioneering new standards in sustainable mining practices," said Dr. Vinay Prakash, CEO - Natural Resources and Director Adani Enterprises.

The project is a joint effort between Adani Natural Resources (ANR) and Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL), both part of Adani Enterprises. ANR will source hydrogen cells from ANIL, which is also involved in green hydrogen, wind turbines, solar modules, and battery manufacturing.

Hydrogen, the most abundant element, produces no harmful emissions. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles match diesel trucks in range and load capacity but emit only water vapor and warm air, with minimal noise.

Since mining mainly uses diesel-powered machinery, switching to cleaner fuels will reduce emissions and noise. It will also help lower India’s crude oil imports and carbon footprint. Notably, Adani Natural Resources is the first in Asia to deploy Dozer Push Semi-Autonomous Technology, boosting both safety and sustainability.

Tata Steel and TEXMiN of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Partner to Catalyze Innovation in India’s Mining Sector

Tata Steel and TEXMiN, the Mining Technology Innovation Hub at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, have entered into a strategic alliance to transform India's mining sector. This partnership is set to catalyze innovation and reshape the landscape of natural resource management in the country. 

The collaboration was announced on April 30, 2024, and involves Tata Steel's Industrial Consulting Division (TSIC) and TEXMiN, at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.

Through meticulously curated training initiatives, the collaboration aims to empower mining professionals with contemporary proficiencies spanning exploration, mining, remote sensing, and regulatory protocols, ensuring a skilled and competent workforce for the future.

TSIC and TEXMiN will synergise their efforts to conceive novel products and services with commercial viability, focusing on scalability and innovation to address industry challenges and drive transformative change. The partnership will also explore and implement nascent mining technologies, fostering sustainable growth and industry-wide transformation through the adoption of innovative solutions.

Additionally, TSIC and TEXMiN will collaborate in governmental and private sector initiatives, leveraging their complementary competencies to overcome challenges and foster a culture of transformative change within the mining industry.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities marks a significant step towards propelling the mining industry into the era of Mining 4.0. It emphasizes both institutions' commitment to fostering a sustainable and efficient future for the sector.

Key Objectives of the Alliance:

• Technical Advancements: Prioritizing technical advancements to redefine resource management practices.
• Skill Development: Empowering mining professionals with contemporary skills in exploration, mining, remote sensing, and regulatory protocols.
• Innovative Technologies: Integrating cutting-edge software and digital methodologies into exploration, mining, and beneficiation processes.
• Novel Products and Services: Conceiving scalable and innovative solutions to address industry challenges.
• Sustainable Growth: Implementing nascent mining technologies to foster sustainable growth and industry-wide transformation.

This strategic alliance is expected to drive transformative change across the sector, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability.

TEXMiN (Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining) Foundation, instituted by DST, GoI, under the NMICPS mission, is a Section 8 company and the preeminent Mining Technology Innovation Hub of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. It is committed to addressing the manifold challenges confronting the mining and exploration sector through the strategic deployment of CPS-based technologies.

Tata Steel Becomes First-in-India to Integrate Transgender Employees in Core Mining Operations

Tata Steel has taken a pioneering step in workforce diversity by integrating transgender employees into its mining operations. On March 31, 2024, in celebration of International Transgender Day of Visibility, Tata Steel's West Bokaro Division onboarded 14 new transgender trainees as Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) Operator Trainees.

This initiative has increased the company's total transgender workforce to 120.

The company has been at the forefront of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace, with various programs and policies designed to create a respectful and supportive environment for all employees.

The inclusion of transgender employees in core mining operations is not only about providing jobs but also about empowering these individuals, fostering an inclusive work environment, and enhancing the diversity of Tata Steel's workforce.

Tata Steel's West Bokaro Division has been at the forefront of integrating transgender persons into its workforce. Earlier in 2022, the division took a landmark step by onboarding 14 transgender employees as Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) Operators at its mines, who are successfully operating 100-ton dumpers in West Bokaro.

This initiative goes beyond just providing jobs. It empowers transgender employees, fosters a more inclusive work environment, and strengthens the diversity of Tata Steel's workforce.

Anurag Dixit, General Manager, West Bokaro Division, Tata Steel, said, "We are delighted to welcome our new Operator Trainees today. This is a momentous occasion as we continue to build a truly inclusive workplace at West Bokaro Division. We are confident that our new trainees will make valuable contributions to our team, and we are committed to providing them with the support and opportunities they need to succeed."

In India, besides Tata Steel several companies are actively working towards transgender inclusion in the workplace. Here are some examples:

• RJ Corp: This conglomerate is also known for hiring transgender workers.
• Publicis Sapient: The global advertising firm has hired transgender individuals through programs like the Rainbow Internship.
• ESL Steel: Part of the Vedanta Group, ESL Steel is planning to hire transgender employees in administration and security functions.
• The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group: They offer higher stipends for skill enhancement training programs for transgender people, recognizing the additional costs they may incur for hormone therapy.

These companies are not only providing employment opportunities but also revising their policies to be more inclusive, offering health insurance benefits that include gender reaffirmation surgery and hormone replacement therapy, and identifying more roles for transgender employees. This reflects a growing momentum towards increasing the participation of transgender individuals in regular office work.

0x_nodes Simplifies Protocol, Launches New Improved Cross-Chain Liquidity Mining Platform

Liquidity mining platform 0x_nodes that generates high APY returns across any blockchain, today announced the launch of a simplified protocol, featuring a ‘build-your-own-strategy approach’, a simple interface, and a high APY with optimal security.

Liquidity mining is a process in which crypto holders lend assets to a decentralized exchange in return for rewards. These rewards commonly stem from trading fees that are accrued from traders swapping tokens. It is an essential part of providing liquidity to the Defi environment, allowing even newbie crypto investors to gain high-yield, passive income.

On 0x_nodes, users stake native assets of the protocol’s supported blockchains to earn native asset rewards. Users employ the platform’s build-your-own-strategy approach to choose from a variety of investment strategies to stake their assets on. The system then deploys user funds to the underlying investment strategies in batches, resulting in cost savings.

"0x_nodes is ideal for creating an interest-bearing portfolio where the APY% is represented in base assets (that is, without conversion to USD), eliminates the temporary “impermanent” loss, and allows for additional yield to be generated,” said “owl," founder of 0x_nodes. “We make it easy to maximize returns so portfolios can balance out in response to market movements, therefore cutting loss."

The protocol provides sustainable yields through its innovative auto pooling technology that finds and distributes liquidity according to its highest performance. The protocol periodically distributes rewards back to the users as claimable native assets and provides users with the option of automatically reinvesting yield. Users can also stake the $BIOS token to earn rewards in the form of native assets, across six different blockchains.

With traditional DeFi platforms, there’s no cross-chain interface that allows free exchange of native assets between non-native environments, which means users have to move assets from the Ethereum mainnet to remote chains for deployment–– a process that is slow, expensive, requires constant education and results in lost opportunities. The platform, on the other hand, draws yield from numerous decentralized exchanges and blockchains in one place.