Bhubaneswar, July 22 (UDN): Odisha is set to strengthen its position in India’s critical minerals sector with the Centre approving a Critical Mineral Processing Park (CMPP) at Paradip under the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM).
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The announcement was made in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey, who said the facility will be established within the Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) at Paradip.
The proposed park is among four Critical Mineral Processing Parks planned across the country under the NCMM. The initiative, backed by a ₹500-crore central outlay, aims to strengthen India’s capabilities in processing and value addition of critical minerals, which are essential for industries such as clean energy, electric mobility, electronics, defence and advanced manufacturing.
Common Infrastructure for Industry
The Paradip facility will provide shared infrastructure for industries engaged in critical mineral processing, enabling efficient value addition and supporting downstream manufacturing sectors, including steel and other mineral-dependent industries.
The Union Minister informed Parliament that the project’s investment requirement and employment potential will be finalised after the completion of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which is currently under preparation.
CSIR-IMMT Recognised as Centre of Excellence
In another boost for Odisha, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT), Bhubaneswar, has been designated as one of nine Centres of Excellence under the National Critical Minerals Mission.
The selected institutions will lead research and technological development across the critical minerals value chain, supporting exploration, extraction, processing, recycling and advanced material development.
Strategic Push for Rare Earths
The processing park complements the Union Budget 2026–27 announcement of a dedicated Rare Earth Corridor in Odisha. Similar corridors are also planned in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to strengthen the country’s mining, processing, research and manufacturing ecosystem for rare earth and other strategic minerals.
Odisha Emerging as a Critical Minerals Hub
With abundant mineral reserves, established industrial infrastructure and an expanding value-addition ecosystem, Odisha is expected to play a pivotal role in India’s efforts to secure a reliable supply of critical minerals and reduce dependence on imports.
The state already has a strong foundation in the sector through IREL (India) Limited’s rare earth extraction facility in Ganjam district. The upcoming processing park is expected to further attract investments in high-growth sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, battery manufacturing, electronics and defence production, while enhancing Odisha’s status as a key destination for strategic mineral-based industries.