Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in India
Context:
Geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions have highlighted the urgency for India to build a self-reliant supply chain for critical minerals, including Rare Earth Elements (REEs)
India's contribution to the global production of REEs is currently less than 1% and is heavily dependent on imports, sourcing over 90% of its REE requirements from other countries.
This exposes the nation to significant supply chain vulnerabilities
Sources of REE in India:
Monazite is the primary source of REEs in India. It is a phosphate mineral containing light rare earth elements (LREEs) such as lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium.
Monazite occurs in coastal placer (beach) sands, usually along with heavy minerals like ilmenite, rutile, zircon, sillimanite, and garnet.
The average grade of monazite in Indian heavy mineral ore is about 0.1%, and its REO (rare earth oxide) content is around 0.06%, indicating low concentration but significant total reserves.
India holds approximately 13.07 million tonnes of monazite, a mineral rich in rare earth elements (REEs), primarily along its eastern and western coastlines.
These REE resources are concentrated in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, with inland discoveries such as Rajasthan’s Balotra deposit adding to the national inventory.
Efforts to Strengthen Domestic REE Supply
The National Mineral Exploration Policy (NMEP), 2016 and amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in 2021 and 2023 have been introduced to encourage private participation in exploration.
National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM): The government has launched the NCMM with a ₹4,300 crore plan to strengthen value chains across exploration, mining, processing, and recovery.
KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd-2019): It was formed in 2019.This joint venture is tasked with securing overseas mineral assets to ensure a stable supply for the country.