Strategic Minerals

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

Centre reclassifies limestone as major mineral amid rising industrial use

The move, effective October 10, 2025, follows NITI Aayog's panel advice and brings limestone under central regulation as its use grows in large industries

Critical mineral M&A falls 39% in 2024 as lithium prices, demand cool

PwC report says M&A in critical minerals dropped sharply in 2024 as lithium prices plunged, supply fears eased and governments tightened scrutiny on strategic resources

Critical mineral blocks auction: A snapshot of the progress so far

Since the launch of auctions for critical minerals in 2023, the government has offered 81 blocks across five tranches

Self sufficiency in critical minerals a work in progress, says PM Modi

Highlighting government efforts, PM Modi said the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) has already been launched, with exploration work underway at more than 1,200 locations

Govt targets critical minerals security through mining law changes

The proposal, aimed at securing long-term access to resources like lithium, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements, comes amid tightening global supply and rising geopolitical risks

No production impact from rare earth magnet shortage: Tata Motors CFO

Rare earth magnets shortage issue has had no impact on production of Tata Motors and JLR's electric vehicles and is unlikely to affect in the foreseeable future, although there are a few challenges in the coming quarters, Tata Motors Group CFO P B Balaji said on Friday. In an earnings call, he said teams are working to sort out the problem and the company is continuing to de-risk itself, and is confident of de-risking itself completely. "Absolutely no impact on production so far, as far as rare earth are concerned, nothing in the foreseeable future," Balaji asserted when asked if the company adjusted production due to the shortage of rare earth magnets. He further said, "The semiconductor crisis has given us enough learnings and abilities to actually manage challenges of this sort. So at this point in time, we do not see stress in the domestic business as well as JLR and a lot of interventions put in place to ensure that we keep this pace." While the company also does not see any .

Chips won the cold war, but rare earth magnets could decide the next

In the first major US-China trade dispute of Trump's second term, Beijing was able to use its control of rare earths to force Washington to a deal last week

Govt likely to amend laws to let firms explore critical minerals overseas

India will amend the Mines and Minerals Act 2023 to permit use of ₹5,600 crore for overseas critical mineral exploration and introduce a tailings policy to support extraction

MHI moves closer to rare earth magnet scheme, calls June 3 stakeholder meet

The industry group also suggested a delegation of auto-company representatives go to China to take up the matter with the authorities there

Best of BS Opinion: Of arbitration, agreements, and artificial intelligence

Our opinion page today makes a strong argument for better management of the arbitration process, as well as the precedent that the Supreme Court's judgement sets

Best of BS Opinion: India's many national security concerns, and more

Our selection of editorial and columns today look at the importance of the new Critical Minerals Mission, India-China ties, ideas for the Union Budget to jump-start growth, and more

India, US ink pact to cooperate on critical battery mineral supply chains

Goyal, speaking at Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington after signing, described the MOU as a multi-dimensional partnership that would include open supply chains for materials

NLC India eyes critical mineral mining capacity of 1 MTPA by FY30

State-owned NLC India has said it is in the process of participating in the upcoming auctions of critical mineral resources and aims to achieve the annual capacity of mining one million tonnes of such materials by 2029-30. NLC India's core business include mining of coal and lignite as well as power generation. Having critical mineral capacity assumes significance amid increasing demand of these resources for a wide range of activities from semiconductor manufacturing to renewable energy projects, including those related to production of solar panels, wind turbines and advanced batteries for storage and transportation. "With the recent developments in renewable energy sector and the strategic importance of the critical minerals required for RE (renewable energy), we are in the process of participating in upcoming auctions and envision achieving a critical mineral mining capacity of 1.0 MTPA by 2029-30," the company said in its recent report. The company had earlier said that once i

Vedanta Nico inks pact for supplying nickel to US-based AEsir Technologies

Vedanta Nico, a subsidiary of Vedanta Ltd, on Monday said it has entered into a pact with US-based AEsir Technologies for the supply of nickel, a critical component for next-generation batteries. Nickel plays an important role in EV battery technology, particularly in the cathode, where it enhances energy density, power output, and battery lifespan. Nickel-rich batteries, such as nickel-zinc variants, offer fast charging, reduce reliance on cobalt, and improve the overall electric vehicle (EV) value proposition. The global demand for nickel in batteries is projected to reach 500,000 tonnes by 2025 from 150,000 tonnes in 2020 due to the expanding EV market adoption. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that the number of electric cars will rise from over 10 million in 2020 to 145 million by 2030, spurred by larger battery capacities, faster charging, and advancements in reducing cobalt use. "Vedanta Nico, India's primary nickel producer, has signed a strategic Memorandum

Govt puts 7 critical and strategic mineral blocks up for bid again

These seven blocks pertains to critical minerals such as Glauconite, Graphite, Nickel, PGE, Potash, Lithium, and Titanium and are spread across the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, UP and J&K

K'taka, Rajasthan begin exploration licenses' auction for critical minerals

Karnataka and Rajasthan have launched an auction of exploration licenses for critical and deep-seated minerals, according to an official statement on Thursday. Karnataka launched the auction of one block each of gold, copper and lithium while Rajasthan launched the auction of three blocks of rare earth elements, rare metal and potash minerals, it said. According to the Ministry of Mines, the two states launched the auction of exploration licenses on March 6. Exploration licence blocks are being auctioned for the first time in the country, it said. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, was amended through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, with effect from 17.08.2023, inter alia, to introduce new mineral concession of exploration licence for 29 critical and deep-seated minerals to further boost exploration and mining of critical and deep-seated minerals in the country. Critical and deep-seated minerals such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, gold, silver, and copper are

Cabinet approves royalty rates for mining of 12 critical minerals

This completes the exercise of the rationalisation of royalty rates for all 24 critical and strategic minerals

Vedanta, Jindal Power, Ola joins first tranche of critical minerals auction

Mining major Vedanta, Jindal Power and state-owned NLC India are among the players which participated in the first tranche of the auction of critical minerals, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday. A total of 56 bids were received for 20 critical and strategic blocks put on auction in the first tranche launched in November 2023, the minister told reporters after the lunch of the second tranche of the auction of critical and strategic minerals. Around 180 enquiries came from interested parties and 56 bids have been received from companies like Vedanta, NLC, Shree Cement, Dalmia, and Jindal Power, he said. The list includes a number of EV players also like Ola Electric, he said. In the first tranche, 20 mineral blocks including lithium were put on auction. Of these 16 have been put up for grant of composite licence and four for grant of mining lease.