Minerals

Parl panel suggests funding boost for IREL to prioritise rare earth mining

Amid the rising global demand for rare earth elements, a parliamentary panel has urged the government to bolster IREL (India) with focused budgetary support to prioritise exploration and mining of the critical mineral. IREL (India), a central public sector enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is the only company in India that is engaged in the mining of rare earth ores and refining them into rare earth oxides. The Standing Committee on Coal, Mines, and Steel, in its latest report, also asked the government to formulate strategies for their domestic availability, identification, exploration, and economic viability, aiming to bring down the country's heavy import dependence. Rare earth minerals broadly are a group of metallic elements that are difficult and expensive to extract and process because they are rarely found in high concentrations. They play a critical role in clean energy applications like wind energy turbines, hybrid car batteries, electric motors, sol

Parl panel flags delays, seeks clearances for critical mineral projects

A Parliamentary Panel has flagged delays between mine auctions and operationalisation and has urged the government to explore setting up an inter-ministerial committee to monitor the post-auction progress for mineral and critical mineral projects. The panel also stressed that critical mineral projects should be given priority in necessary statutory clearances. "Although policy initiatives and simplification of exploration norms for auction of mineral blocks are in place, the Committee feels that the lengthy process of regulatory clearances, inadequate exploration, forest clearance requirement even at the exploration stage, considerable time lag between auction of mines and their operationalisation, etc., needs to be looked into," it said. The observations were made by the Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel in its latest report titled "Self-Reliance in Minerals and Metals". "In view of these persistent challenges, the committee desires to explore the possibility of setting

Ashapura Minechem shares jump 5% to fresh high; what's driving the rally?

The market price of smallcap industrial products company hit a new high of ₹783, has more than doubled or zoomed 147 per cent from its 52-week low of ₹302 touched on March 11, 2025.

Explained: All about India's ₹7,280 crore push to build rare earth magnet industry

The Union Cabinet has approved a landmark ₹7,280 crore scheme to build India’s first integrated rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing ecosystem

G20 backs critical minerals plan to boost inclusive growth, resilience

The framework seeks to ensure that mineral-producing countries, particularly in the Global South, derive maximum benefit from their resources, moving beyond mere raw material exports

UK unveils critical minerals strategy to cut reliance on foreign supply

Backed by up to 50 million pounds in new funding, the strategy seeks to ensure no more than 60 per cent of the UK's supply of any one critical mineral comes from a single country by 2035

The tough race for critical minerals continues despite viability fears

While the auction of mines has attracted high bids, just how many of these mines will actually be commercially viable remains to be seen

Govt launches ₹210 crore research programme for critical minerals

The government has rolled out a Rs 210-crore, three-year critical minerals research programme led by ANRF and the Ministry of Mines, restricted to nine Centres of Excellence

Adani's Kutch Copper inks deal with Australia's Caravel minerals project

Initial capital expenditure for the project is estimated at $1.10 billion, with KCL granted first rights to participate in direct equity or project-level investments during the term of the agreement

Trump to host summit with Central Asian leaders as resources race heats up

Trump is meeting with representatives of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in an event intended to mark the 10th anniversary of the so-called C5+1 format

Viability gaps threaten to trip India's race to secure critical minerals

While the auction of mines has attracted aggressive bidding - with many willing to pay high premiums - how many of those will actually be commercially viable remains to be seen

Centre to meet with automakers, others on rare-earth-free EV motors

Amid China's restriction of rare-earth permanent magnet exports to India, the ministry is looking into ways to reduce India's dependence on other countries

US delegates discuss cooperation on critical minerals with Pak officials

A US delegation held talks with Pakistani officials to seek cooperation in minerals and mining as Washington races to secure mineral supply chains for American industry amid concerns over China's increasing control on rare-earth resources. The US delegation, led by Critical Minerals Forum (CMF) chief Robert Louis Strayer II, along with US Charg d'Affaires Natalie Baker, met Minister for Finance & Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb and his team on Friday. According to an official statement, the US delegation discussed avenues of cooperation in the minerals and mining sector, strengthening supply-chain security, and encouraging responsible and sustainable investment in Pakistan's critical minerals landscape. It said that Aurangzeb highlighted Pakistan's ongoing structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and positive global outlook, emphasising that a robust minerals policy can drive Pakistan toward export-led growth and long-term economic stability. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to continued

'Prevent world from returning to law of jungle': Xi warns against bullying

Xi's remarks came as he was the only superpower left at the summit after US President Donald Trump departed from South Korea a day earlier

Some companies in India get China licences to import REMs, says MEA

MEA confirms licences for Indian companies to import rare earth magnets from China; also announces US waiver on Chabahar port sanctions for six months

CIL intensifies critical mineral push with fresh bids, global focus

Coal India Ltd is accelerating its diversification strategy by bidding for domestic critical mineral blocks and scouting global lithium, graphite, and rare earth assets

Rare earth producers look to US-led boom to counter China's dominance

Beijing has long supported strategic enterprises, either directly or through indirect means like inexpensive loans or a helping hand with permits, a far cry from West's economically driven approach

Rajasthan to make 8 mines operational this year, fast-tracks clearances

Rajasthan targets 8 new mines in 2025, aiming to boost revenue to ₹12,980 crore, create jobs, and attract investment with fast-track clearances.

Chinese officials try to ease global concerns over rare earth export curbs

China's unprecedented move on rare earths sparked a global pushback over the past week, as officials from Europe and Japan voiced concerns over supply chain stability

Mines ministry unlikely to cap bid premium in critical mineral auctions

The mines ministry rules out any move to limit bid premiums for critical minerals, even as aggressive offers raise questions over their commercial viability