In accordance with its Atmanirbar (self-reliance) strategy and taking into consideration its requirements for industries including military, agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, and telecom, India has chosen 30 important minerals in a first-ever report of the country on “Critical Minerals for India”
Union Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi delivered the first report ever, titled “Critical Minerals for India,” at a ceremony on Wednesday. The study was created by an expert team assembled by the Ministry of Mines.
These essential minerals include Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium, and Cadmium.
In the mining industry, they are expected to act as a framework for directing policy development, long-term planning, and investment choices. Minerals that are crucial for both national security and economic growth are known as critical minerals.
Future of technologies will depend on critical minerals: report
“The future global economy will be underpinned by technologies that depend on minerals such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements. These are essential for the advancement of many sectors, including high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and defence. They are also vital to power the global transition to a low carbon emissions economy, and the renewable energy technologies that will be required to meet the ‘Net Zero’ commitments of an increasing number of countries around the world,” the executive summary of the report read.
The research observed that it has become crucial to recognise and create value chains for the minerals that are essential to the nation. To determine the list of important minerals, the Ministry of Mines established a seven-member Committee in November 2022, with the Joint Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Mines as its chairperson. Following a series of discussions among the members, the Committee agreed to create the list.
Committee recommends establishment of Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals
The Committee recommended the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals (CECM) in the Ministry of Mines in addition to listing the critical minerals. The CECM will update the list of critical minerals for India on a regular basis, communicate changes to the critical mineral strategy, and carry out a number of tasks necessary for the creation of a successful value chain for them.
Minister Pralhad Joshi praised the ministry’s efforts while pointing out that India has created the first comprehensive list of vital minerals, taking into consideration the needs of important industries.
Joshi mentioned the recent trip to the US by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that India has joined the coveted Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) to strengthen vital mineral supply chains as its newest member.
The Minister also noted that the study issued today highlighted 30 key minerals and that the Geological Survey of India (GSI) is now concentrating more on the investigation of crucial and deep-seated minerals.
