Siby Mining Signs MoU with National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM) to Propel Controlled Blasting Innovations Across India
Hyderabad, Telangana, July 16, 2025 – In a landmark step towards advancing controlled blasting technologies in the mining and infrastructure sectors, Siby Mining and Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM), an autonomous research institution under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
The MoU was formally signed by Mr. Siby Lukose, Founder & Managing Director of Siby Mining, and Dr. Sripad R. Naik, Director (Additional Charge), representing NIRM. This strategic partnership aims to combine the technical capabilities of both institutions to deliver safe, precise, and innovative controlled blasting solutions for critical infrastructure and mining projects across the country.
About Siby Mining
Established in 2000 and headquartered in Hyderabad, Siby Mining is widely recognized as one of India’s foremost experts in controlled blasting. The company executes excavation and rock blasting works across key sectors such as national highways, thermal and hydro power projects, mining overburden removal, and aggregate production.
Siby Mining has notably assisted Coal India Limited (CIL) in unlocking geologically complex coal reserves at Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) through advanced controlled blasting techniques.
About NIRM
The National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM) is a premier autonomous research organization under the Ministry of Mines, with over 35 years of dedicated service in rock engineering and rock mechanics. NIRM provides cutting-edge scientific solutions and consultancy services to sectors including mining, tunnelling, transport, and energy, focusing on safe and sustainable project execution through applied research, training, and testing.
Vision Behind the Collaboration
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Siby Lukose remarked,
“This MoU comes at a critical time when India’s mining and infrastructure sectors are increasingly demanding precision-controlled blasting solutions. With an estimated 20–30 million tonnes of coal locked due to geological complexities, our collaboration with NIRM can help unlock these reserves through advanced techniques. We are already in discussions with various Coal India subsidiaries to take on such vital projects.”
Dr. Sripad R. Naik, Director of NIRM, added,
“Siby Mining leads the industry in controlled blasting, while NIRM brings unmatched expertise in rock mechanics and engineering. This partnership brings together the finest capabilities to tackle the most complex challenges on-ground across India’s civil and mining sectors.”
Ongoing Collaboration
The two organizations are currently working together on the 500 MW Chitravati Pumped Storage Project of Adani Green Energy, located in Peddakota, Sri Sathya Sai District, Andhra Pradesh. They also previously collaborated on controlled blasting operations at the NPCIL Nuclear Power Plant site in Rawatbhata, Rajasthan.
A Step Toward National Development
Both Siby Mining and NIRM are confident that this collaboration will significantly contribute to enhancing productivity, safety, and sustainability in India’s mining and infrastructure ecosystems. The partnership is set to play a vital role in supporting the country’s strategic development goals.