Critical Minerals (Science & Technology)
Critical Minerals (Science & Technology)
Why In News:
India and the United Kingdom jointly launched a Critical Minerals Observatory in New Delhi — a bilateral initiative aimed at improving data, analysis, and policy coordination around minerals essential for clean energy transition.
What are Critical Minerals?
Minerals deemed economically vital and have supply chain risks. They are indispensable for clean energy technologies, electronics, aerospace, and defence.
Examples: Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Manganese, Graphite (for batteries); Rare Earth Elements (REEs) like Neodymium (for magnets in EVs/wind turbines); Gallium, Germanium (semiconductors).
China controls ~60% of global REE production and ~80–90% of REE processing — a major geopolitical concern.
India's Critical Minerals Strategy:
Critical Mineral Mission (2024): India launched a dedicated mission to secure domestic and overseas supply of 30 critical minerals. Ministry of Mines is the nodal ministry.
India's Critical Minerals List: India identifies 30 critical minerals including Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, REEs, Silicon, Tungsten, etc.
India holds significant deposits of Lithium (J&K — Salal-Haimana deposit), recently confirmed as the 5th largest globally.
KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd.): Joint venture of NALCO, HCL, and MECL for overseas mineral acquisition.