NEW DELHI: As critical minerals emerge as a key element of the global energy transition, the issue found prominence at the Brics summit, with leaders calling for reliable, diversified and resilient supply chains for minerals needed for zero- and low-emission energy technologies and energy security.Delivering the concluding address, PM Narendra Modi warned against weaponisation of critical minerals, saying it could become an obstacle to shared progress.Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, graphite and rare earth elements are essential for manufacturing EVs, batteries, semiconductors, solar panels, wind turbines and advanced defence systems, but their supply faces a high risk of disruption.Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a global summit on Friday, coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy said India was in talks with Argentina to acquire five more blocks of lithium, while discussions were also on with Australia and Chile. He said India had limited lithium reserves, making it necessary to look overseas to secure supplies.Govt has identified 30 minerals as strategically important and launched the National Critical Mineral Mission in 2025 with a financial outlay of Rs 34,300 crore to promote exploration, mining, processing, recycling and overseas asset acquisition.Officials said Geological Survey of India has taken up 300 critical mineral exploration projects this year alone. “Govt is also encouraging private companies to acquire mineral blocks overseas, undertake mining and semi-processing and bring the raw material to India,” an official said.Centre also signed a strategic India-US framework in May for mining and processing of critical minerals and rare earths to co-invest in supply chains and protect against market coercion.In Australia, state-run Khanij Bidesh India Limited has partnered with its critical minerals office for joint exploration. India is also working with France through a dedicated joint working group and has joined the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative with the US, Japan and Australia to build resilient and trusted supply networks, the official said.On the domestic front, govt is setting up critical minerals parks in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Gujarat to develop processing capabilities for minerals such as lithium, nickel, zirconium and rare earth magnets, a senior mines ministry official said.Experts believe India’s challenge is not limited to finding resources, but converting discoveries into commercially viable mines, developing domestic processing and separation technologies and reducing dependence on overseas supply chains.The minister also said Centre was working on an incentive scheme for recycling critical minerals from e-waste, with an initial allocation of Rs 1,500 crore. Around 125 companies had applied, of which 58 had been shortlisted in the first phase. About 25-30% of India’s requirement of critical minerals could be met through recycling of e-waste.
