Interview Times 
Few leaders shape an industry as quietly yet powerfully as Sharada Bhushan Mohanty, Director (Finance) and CMD (In-Charge) of IREL (India) Ltd. With decades of multi-sector experience and a deep understanding of India’s critical mineral needs, he stands at the forefront of the nation’s rare earth and strategic mineral journey. In this exclusive conversation, he reflects on leadership, innovation, sustainability, and the road ahead.
Q 1: You have worked across NALCO, Vedanta, and Tata Steel Long Products before joining IREL. How has this diverse experience shaped your leadership approach today?
Ans: My experience across NALCO, Vedanta, and Tata Steel Long Products has been instrumental in shaping my leadership, style, skills I possess today. Each organization operates with its own culture, pace, and priorities and working across them has given me a broad, multidimensional, dynamic perspective on leadership and enhancing decision-making ability.
Bringing this all experience together at IREL, has helped me, lead with a balance of discipline and agility, performance and empathy, structure and innovation. Ultimately, this diverse past experience has allowed me to engage more effectively with teams, make better-rounded decisions, have people centric approach, problem solving skills and lead the organization with a holistic, future-ready perspective.
Q 2: IREL has a 70+ year legacy in rare earths and mineral sands. What, according to you, makes this organisation special?
Ans: When we speak of IREL’s 70-plus year legacy, we are talking about an Organisation that has stood the test of time—one that has contributed quietly but powerfully to India’s technological and strategic journey. IREL has always occupied a unique strategic position in our nation’s growth story for over seven decades. Rare Earths and Mineral sands are not ordinary resources—they are the backbone of modern technology, renewable energy, and even strategic applications for our nation’s Nuclear, Defence and Space programme. IREL has been the custodian of these critical minerals including the much sought of Strategic minerals and Rare Earths for its inception. Very few organisations can say that the work they do every day helps strengthen the nation’s self-reliance in such a direct and meaningful way.
Our operation span from Mining to Separation technologies, from Rare Earth processing to Value-added products that has nurtured a culture of innovation, precision, and problem-solving. This technical heritage is one of our greatest strengths which gives IREL a unique blend of experience and innovation.
Q 3: India’s push for Atmanirbhar Bharat has renewed focus on critical minerals. How is IREL supporting this mission?
Ans: India’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ has placed unprecedented emphasis on securing and developing our own sources of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths. And in this national mission, IREL plays a truly pivotal role.
The first step is we are enhancing domestic production of strategic minerals—rare earths, titanium, zircon, and other value-added products that are essential for electronics, renewable energy, EVs, defence systems, and advanced manufacturing. By strengthening our mining and processing capabilities, we are reducing our dependence on imports and building a resilient materials supply chain within India.
IREL’s R&D and technology development efforts are directly aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat. We have advanced separation technologies, facilities for rare earth metal and magnets manufacturing in the Value-chain development. This will help the country for setting up of industry in Rare Earth sector.
And I truly believe that with this foundation, IREL is poised to shape India’s future in critical minerals and advanced materials in a way that honours its legacy and drives the nation forward.
Q 4: Sustainability has become a non-negotiable priority globally. What role does it play in IREL’s operations?
Ans: Sustainability is not just an element of IREL’s operations—it is at the core of IREL’s operations and the conduct our business. As a steward of Strategic Mineral resources, we understand that our responsibility goes far beyond production. It extends to protecting the environment, supporting communities, and ensuring long-term resource security for the nation.
Sustainability drives our Process Efficiency and Technology choices. We continuously adopt cleaner, energy-efficient technologies, reduce waste generation, and promote circularity to the extent possible within our operations. Whether it is water conservation through desalination plant, energy optimization through Solar Panels, the aim is to make our operations greener and more future-ready.
In essence, Sustainability at IREL is about long term commitment towards society, balance—balancing national priorities with environmental care, industrial growth with community well-being, and today’s needs with tomorrow’s responsibilities. It is truly the foundation on which we operate and evolve.
Q 5: What innovations or projects excite you the most about IREL’s future?
Ans: When I look at IREL’s future, I see an organisation standing at the crossroads of Science, Technology, and National aspiration. What excites me most is the transition we are making—from being known purely as a minerals producer to becoming a truly Critical Mineral and Rare Earths (RE) Value-driven Company.
One of the biggest opportunities ahead of us is the advancement of the Rare Earth Value chain in India. We are not just extracting minerals anymore—we are moving toward high-purity RE compounds, advanced materials, and eventually magnets that can power EVs, electronics, and renewable energy systems. This is nation building in the truest sense.
Lastly, our commitment to green and circular economy gives me immense pride. From waste recovery of RE Metals, we are building mini plants that are environmentally responsible.
Q 6: As IREL prepares for India 2047, what is your vision for the organisation?
Ans: When I imagine India 2047, we see a nation that leads with confidence, innovation, and self-reliance. My vision is for IREL to be one of the resilient forces that helps shape that future.
I see an IREL that has risen from being a Minerals producer to becoming a global critical mineral and rare earths producer in advanced materials—fuelling India’s ambitions in aerospace, defence, energy, and e-mobility sector.
I see an organisation where innovation is a way of life, where we create technologies rather than merely adopt them. There are models of sustainability, proving that growth and responsibility can go hand in hand.
And above all, I see our people—empowered, skilled, and inspired—leading IREL confidently into a new era.
In 2047, I believe IREL will stand as a symbol of what India can achieve: an organisation that honours its proud legacy while boldly shaping the Viksit Bharat.
Q 7: Finally, what keeps you motivated as a leader?
Ans: Leadership is about empowering team, fostering innovations and overcoming challenges. At IREL, the mission is to drive India’s self-reliance mission in Rare Earth, push technological barriers and contribute to national development.
