India is actively seeking to secure its supply of critical minerals, essential for various industries including technology and renewable energy.
The country is exploring mining opportunities for these minerals in resource-rich countries like Zambia, Congo, and Australia, India’s Mines Secretary V.L. Kantha Rao said on Thursday, according to a Reuters report.
This strategic move comes as India experiences rapid economic growth and aims to reduce its dependence on imports for crucial raw materials such as lithium, which is a key component in batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
By diversifying its sources of critical minerals, India hopes to strengthen its domestic manufacturing capabilities and support its ambitious goals for sustainable development and technological advancement.
Indian companies seeking exploration opportunities
Indian state-owned companies such as Coal India, NMDC, and ONGC Videsh are actively seeking opportunities to explore and potentially extract critical minerals in Australia, according to Rao.
These minerals are essential for various industrial and technological applications, and their secure supply is crucial for India’s economic and strategic interests.
India’s strategic push to bolster domestic mineral production, particularly for critical resources like lithium, is a multifaceted initiative aimed at reducing the nation’s dependence on imports.
This move is intrinsically tied to India’s broader energy transition goals, as lithium is an indispensable component in the manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems.
By bolstering domestic lithium production, India aims to secure a stable and sustainable supply of this critical mineral, thereby mitigating the risks associated with supply chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainties.
Furthermore, this initiative could potentially stimulate economic growth by creating jobs and fostering technological advancements in the mining and mineral processing sectors.
India in the early stages of lithium development
India is still in the nascent stages of developing lithium processing technology.
This sector is currently dominated by China, which has established a strong foothold in lithium refining and battery production.
While India possesses significant lithium reserves, it lacks the advanced infrastructure and technological expertise required for efficient lithium extraction and processing.
This dependence on China for lithium processing poses a challenge to India’s ambitious plans to expand its electric vehicle industry and transition towards renewable energy sources.
India has been granted 9,000 square kilometers by the Zambian government to explore for cobalt and copper.
Rao stated in a media conference that India is also exploring mining critical minerals in Congo and Tanzania.
India’s exploration plans
India’s Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy announced that the country plans to explore lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir. Further details are expected to be released by May 2025.
In 2023, India designated over 20 minerals, including lithium, as “critical” to address the increasing demand from industries and the infrastructure sector, as well as to support its energy transition goals.
While the government discovered its first lithium deposits in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2023, with estimated reserves of 5.9 million metric tons, it has been unsuccessful in attracting bids for auctioning mining rights in the state.
In January 2025, New Delhi approved a 163 billion rupee ($1.88 billion) investment aimed at fostering the advancement of the critical minerals sector.
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