PM Modi says India securing critical minerals, deepening global supply partnerships

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, announced India's intensified efforts to secure critical minerals and establish supply-chain partnerships with various countries. Recognizing the importance of these resources for modern technology and clean energy sectors, the government is pursuing both domestic exploration and international collaborations to reduce vulnerabilities in critical mineral supply.

Modi highlighted the significance of resources like copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements for technologies such as electric vehicles, batteries, wind turbines, and electricity networks. As countries strive to expand clean energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, the demand for these critical minerals has surged.

To bolster domestic processing capacity, the government plans to establish four dedicated critical mineral processing parks in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. Each park will focus on specific elements, with lithium and nickel being prioritized for the battery sector. These parks will facilitate value addition and develop integrated ecosystems around key materials, allowing the complete value addition process to occur within a single location.

The National Critical Mineral Mission, launched under the budget, aims to secure supplies of critical minerals and is backed by an investment of Rs 16,300 crore. Public sector enterprises will contribute an additional Rs 18,000 crore to the initiative. The government has also earmarked funds for expanding exploration for critical minerals within India.

Modi emphasized that many nations worldwide are now placing their trust in India's pursuit of critical minerals, underlining the country's role in addressing resource vulnerabilities vital to its technology, manufacturing, energy-transition, and national economic ambitions.