Itanagar, January 3: Oil India Limited (OIL) signed a Deed of Agreement on Thursday for the Composite Licence of the Phop Graphite and Vanadium block in Yazali circle, Keyi Panyor district, Arunachal Pradesh.

The agreement was executed in the presence of State Geology and Mining Secretary A K Singh, OIL Chief General Manager Raghunath Mishra, and Centre of Earth Science and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) Director Tana Tage. CESHS will participate as a local partner with a 10% stake, supporting preliminary and exploratory surveys and facilitating coordination with local communities and authorities.

Officials said the collaboration combines OIL’s technical expertise in resource exploration with CESHS’s grassroots knowledge, enhancing efficiency, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable mineral development.

The pact is a significant step in India’s critical minerals strategy, contributing to resource security, self-reliance, energy transition objectives, and regional development in Arunachal Pradesh.