India's Strategic Minerals Diplomacy: Securing Critical Resources for Clean Energy Transition
India is intensifying its 'minerals diplomacy' to secure critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, essential for the clean energy transition. New Delhi is pursuing bilateral and multilateral partnerships with resource-rich nations like Australia, Japan, and various African countries. The India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership has already identified five target projects. However, challenges remain, including China's dominance in the supply chain, US trade policy volatility, and the need for domestic midstream processing capabilities to reduce dependence on raw material exports and build long-term resilience.
Key Points
- Critical minerals are vital for EV batteries, renewable energy infrastructure, and high-tech manufacturing.
- India is exploring joint ventures in Argentina through Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) with a ₹200 crore agreement.
- African nations like Namibia, Zambia, and Congo offer opportunities for lithium, rare earths, and copper exploration.
- The EU's Critical Raw Materials Act serves as a potential model for aligning sustainability with industrial strategy.
Exam Facts
- Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL)
- India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership
- EU's Critical Raw Materials Act
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