India's Exploration of Critical Minerals

India's Exploration of Critical Minerals

Tags: Rapid Fire, CA, Quick Facts for Prelims, GS Paper - 1, Mineral & Energy Resources, GS Paper - 2, Government Policies & Interventions, GS Paper - 3
Source: IE

India is strengthening its global partnerships across Africa, South America, and Australia to secure critical minerals.

The government has allocated Rs 4,000 crore for both domestic and international mineral exploration as part of the National Critical Minerals Mission.

Key Highlights:

• India has secured 9,000 sq km in Zambia for copper-cobalt exploration, led by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), with mining rights anticipated within 2-3 years.
• Zambia is ranked 7th in copper production and 14th in cobalt production (2023), with existing investments from Canada and China.
• India is engaging with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Rwanda to acquire critical mineral assets.
• India is already active in South America (Argentina, Chile) and Australia, with Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) exploring lithium and cobalt assets.
• Critical minerals are essential to a country’s economy and national security.

India has identified 30 key minerals, including lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, and rare earth elements (REEs).

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