Page 4 - Mineral Sector

Govt to invest nearly $2 billion to develop critical minerals sector

India identified 30 minerals, including lithium, as critical for its energy transition efforts and to meet the growing demand from industries

Govt to launch critical mineral mission to boost production: Mines minister

Union minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday said the Centre will soon launch the National Critical Mineral Mission (CMM) to enhance domestic production, reduce import dependence, and encourage offshore mining auctions, while urging states to cooperate for sustained mining activities. Reddy made the remark after inaugurating the 3rd National Mining Ministers' Conference in Konark, in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Bihar's deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, Telangana deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, and other dignitaries and industry leaders. "The mission will soon get Cabinet approval. Union finance minister had announced about it in her budget speech. Import duty on critical mineral has also been made zero," Reddy said. Lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel and rare earth elements are known as critical minerals which are essential for manufacturing defence equipment and key technologies. Stating that India has already made a place in the global platform on critical ...

Coal India, IREL ink MoU to collaborate on development of critical minerals

Coal India Limited (CIL) and IREL (India) Limited on Monday signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate and collaborate on the development of critical minerals. The MoU aims to promote the development of mutually agreed assets of critical minerals, including mineral sands and rare earth elements (REE), Coal India informed bourses The two companies will work together to acquire assets, source raw materials domestically or internationally, and develop mining, extraction, and refining capabilities, Coal India officials said. This partnership is part of CIL's efforts to reduce India's import dependence on critical minerals including lithium and cobalt. CIL Chairman P M Prasad in the past emphasised the importance of acquiring these mineral assets in India and abroad to support the country's clean energy goals. The government in the Union Budget 2024-25 had announced Critical Mineral Mission that aims to expand domestic production, recycling, and incentivise the

Critical mineral push: Exploration up 53%, but auction hurdles persist

The ministry has also notified 28 private exploration agencies to undertake exploration without requiring prospecting licences

Auction of 11 critical mineral blocks called off over poor response

According to the Ministry of Mines, no bids were received for four blocks, while the remaining seven blocks attracted fewer than three technically qualified bidders

Congo files complaints against Apple in Europe over conflict minerals

Some Congo mines are run by armed groups involved in massacres of civilians, mass rapes and other crimes. Apple has said none of smelters or refiners of 3T minerals had financed those groups

Govt in talks with Mongolia to set up pact focusing mineral shipments

The talks come at a time when multiple domestic steelmakers, such as JSW Steel and SAIL, are also in talks with the landlocked nation to import coking coal

Govt completes auction of 24 critical, strategic mineral blocks in 4 rounds

The government on Wednesday said that 24 critical and strategic mineral blocks have been sold in four rounds of auction. "Out of 48 blocks put to e-auction, 24 have been successfully auctioned, including four mining lease (ML) and 20 composite license (CL) blocks," the mines ministry said in a statement. The centre has so far completed four tranches of e-auction, it said, adding that a total of 10 blocks have been auctioned in the fourth round. According to the statement, the mines ministry has completed the e-auction of another two mineral blocks under tranche IV. "This is in addition to the announcement on November 7, 2024, regarding the preferred bidders for eight mineral blocks under tranche IV of e-auction by central government, bringing the total number of successful blocks in Tranche IV to ten," it said. In the latest auction, Satguru Mining Pvt Ltd won the bid for Ponchi graphite block in Jharkhand, while Assam Mineral Development Corp Ltd emerged as the preferred bidder f

Govt to launch 1st round of auction of minerals in offshore areas on Nov 28

The government will on Thursday launch the first round of sale of mineral blocks in offshore areas with 13 mines across the Arabian Sea and Andaman Sea set to be auctioned. These mineral blocks consist of a mix of construction sand, lime mud, and polymetallic nodules. These minerals are critical for infrastructure development, high-tech manufacturing and green energy transition. "The Ministry of Mines will be launching the first-ever tranche of auction of mineral blocks in offshore areas of India on 28th November 2024," an official statement said. The move assumes significance as it will lead to foray into the exploration and development of undersea mineral resources within its offshore area. Offshore areas include territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, and other maritime zones of the country. With the global shift towards technologies reliant on high-demand minerals, such as cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and polymetallic nodules, India must develop

India need to secure long-term critical mineral supply sources: CareEdge

With India having limited resources of lithium, cobalt, nickel and other critical minerals, domestic players need to secure long-term supply from countries having sizable reserves and focus on battery reuse and recycling, ratings agency CareEdge said on Wednesday. This would provide environmental benefits and reduce price and supply risk associated with imports of these minerals, CareEdge said. India has set an ambitious target to meet 50 per cent of its primary energy requirement from renewable energy sources by 2030 (as a percentage of annual sales). To achieve this, India needs significant penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) as well as grid level energy storage capacity, the ratings agency said, and this envisaged transition would significantly increase India's need for advanced chemistry batteries, particularly lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, due to the limitations of traditional batteries like lead-acid and nickel-metal hydride batteries. "The demand for lithium-ion battery

Mines ministry, IEA sign pact for cooperation in critical mineral sector

The mines ministry on Wednesday entered into a pact with the International Energy Agency (IEA) for cooperation in the area of critical minerals. The Cabinet had earlier this month approved the proposal of signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between IEA and the mines ministry. The present association would provide India with access to reliable data, analysis, and policy recommendations in the critical mineral sector. The IEA is an international organisation within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). "This collaboration would enable India to streamline its policies, regulations, and investment strategies in the critical mineral sector, aligning them with global standards and best practices," the mines ministry said in a statement. The agreement would also promote capacity building and knowledge exchange between India and the IEA member states, it said, adding that the collaboration on data collection, modelling, and analysis

Mineral Resources' MD Ellison to step down after probe on tax evasion

The board also revealed the company had been paying rent for properties which belonged to the billionaire along with rent-related benefits to the founder's daughter

India remains highly dependent on imports of critical minerals, says report

India remains highly dependent on imports for minerals critical to accelerating its energy transition, with a full reliance on shipping in lithium, cobalt and nickel, according to a report released Monday. The report, published by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), said that India's demand for critical minerals is expected to more than double by 2030, while domestic mining operations may take over a decade to start producing. It stresses that India needs a carefully crafted import strategy to mitigate potential trade risks while balancing international relationships to secure these essential minerals. IEEFA's report examines five critical minerals (and their compounds) cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium and nickel from the perspectives of import dependency, trade dynamics, domestic availability, and global price fluctuations. The findings show that India remains largely import-dependent for these minerals and their compounds, with 100 per cent impor

EU set to choose company for critical minerals joint buying platform

EU's rationale for pooling together buying orders is that it would hand participants more leverage to achieve more favourable deals and prices for critical minerals essential for the green transition

India seeks binding critical minerals pact with US to boost manufacturing

India pushes for a binding critical minerals pact amid discussions to restructure the India-US CEO Forum

Rajasthan to launch new mineral policy to boost revenue, streamline mining

The policy will be unveiled before the "Rising Rajasthan" summit in December based on stakeholder input

SC junks pleas against verdict allowing states to levy tax on minerals

The Centre in September had said there were several 'errors apparent in the judgment', and sought a review of the judgement of nine-judge bench

India, US may sign pact on critical minerals to bolster trade ties

The initial pact on critical minerals would help build supply chains, exchange technical know-how, and promote collaboration between Indian and American businesses in the sector

India joins US-led security finance network to secure critical minerals

The Minerals Security Finance Network seeks to promote collaboration between the Indo-Pacific region and Europe, ensuring a secure, sustainable, and diversified supply of critical minerals

Rajasthan govt to launch new mineral policy to attract investment

The total revenue from minerals in Rajasthan was estimated at over Rs 7,460 crore in FY24