BARC, HWB and MIDHANI Sign Tripartite MoU for Recovery of Cobalt and Nickel from Plant Reverts

Mumbai, 3 November 2026

The Heavy Water Board (HWB), a constituent unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), has entered into a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, under the DAE, and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), Hyderabad, under the Ministry of Defence, to collaborate on the recovery and production of cobalt and nickel from plant reverts.

The MoU aims to develop efficient and economically viable processes for recovering valuable cobalt and nickel from plant reverts, enabling their potential reuse in industrial and strategic applications. The collaboration will combine the technological expertise of HWB, the scientific and research capabilities of BARC, and the industrial experience of MIDHANI to develop suitable recovery processes and promote efficient utilisation of secondary resources.

Cobalt and nickel are critical metals with wide-ranging applications in advanced battery technologies, electric vehicles (EVs), stainless steel manufacturing, aerospace and defence applications, and high-performance superalloys. Their recovery from plant reverts offers significant potential for converting industrial residues into valuable resources, conserving natural resources and reducing dependence on primary mineral extraction and imports.

The MoU was signed on 27 October 2026 by Shri V. V. S. A. Prasad, Chairman and Chief Executive, Heavy Water Board; Dr. S. V. S. Narayana Murty, Chairman and Managing Director, MIDHANI; and Dr. Alok Awasthi, Associate Director, Materials Group, BARC. The signing ceremony was attended by Shri K. Madhubala, Director (Finance), MIDHANI, and Shri Sandeep Wadhwa, Executive Director, HWB, along with other officials from the participating organisations.

This collaborative initiative represents an important step towards developing indigenous technologies for the recovery of strategically important metals from secondary industrial resources. By bringing together expertise in research, technology development and industrial manufacturing, the partnership seeks to establish viable recovery routes and enhance domestic availability of critical metals.

The initiative aligns with the national priorities of Atmanirbhar Bharat, resource conservation, circular economy and strategic self-reliance. It is expected to contribute towards strengthening India's domestic supply chain for critical raw materials and supporting the growing requirements of the defence, advanced manufacturing, electric mobility and clean-energy sectors.

Through this partnership, HWB, BARC and MIDHANI reaffirm their commitment to leveraging indigenous scientific and technological capabilities for the sustainable utilisation of resources and the advancement of India's industrial and strategic interests.

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(Source: Department of Atomic Energy) | PIB Mumbai | Edgar Coelho/Darshana Rane

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