NLC India Ltd Secures Composite Licence for Limestone and Phosphorite Blocks in Chhattisgarh.

NLC India Limited has secured composite licences for two mineral blocks in Chhattisgarh, marking a key step in its expansion into critical and strategic mineral resources, the company said.

The development follows NLCIL’s participation in the Ministry of Mines’ Tranche-V auction of critical and strategic minerals, where it emerged as the preferred bidder for the Semhardih Phosphorite & Limestone Block and the Raipura Phosphorite & Limestone Block in Balod district on May 27, 2025.

Subsequently, the company submitted performance securities for both blocks to the Government of Chhattisgarh on June 10, 2025. The state government issued Letters of Intent for composite licences on September 2, 2025, paving the way for further exploration activities.

NLCIL later prepared and submitted the Scheme of Prospecting to the Director of Geology and Mining, Government of Chhattisgarh on March 30, 2026.

In the latest development, the Mineral Resources Department of the Government of Chhattisgarh has formally granted composite licences for both blocks through orders dated April 24, 2026. The licences will allow detailed geological exploration of the Semhardih and Raipura phosphorite and limestone deposits.

The company said the grants mark an important milestone in its efforts to diversify into critical minerals, which are increasingly seen as essential for industrial, agricultural, and strategic applications.