India fully dependent on imports for lithium, cobalt, nickel, committee finds

The Standing Committee on Coal, Mines, and Steel examined India's progress toward self-reliance in minerals and metals to identify gaps in domestic production, processing, and regulatory efficiency. This matters to citizens as it addresses the country's dependence on imports for critical minerals and the sustainability of its mining sector.

Ministry of Coal, Mines, and Steel; the general public affected by mineral supply chains, environmental regulations, and industrial employment.

• Import dependence: The Committee noted India is fully dependent on imports for lithium, cobalt, and nickel, and substantially reliant on imports for graphite, potash, and phosphorus, while being self-sufficient in bauxite, chromite, iron ore, limestone, and sillimanite.
• Processing and refining: The Committee flagged limited domestic capabilities in processing and refining and recommended accelerating development of cost-competitive domestic capacities and exploring international collaborations for technology transfer, particularly in the rare earth sector.
• Regulatory delays: The Committee identified lengthy regulatory clearances and delays between mine auction and operationalisation as slowing production, and recommended setting up an inter-ministerial group to monitor post-auction progress, along with incentives for early production and penalties for delays.
• Sustainability measures: The Committee noted delays in finalizing mine star ratings and recommended expediting these assessments, promoting mineral recycling through financial incentives, and recovering minerals from e-waste, batteries, and industrial scrap.
• Public-private partnerships: The Committee noted that the private sector accounts for 60% of mineral production value and recommended increasing collaboration through Public-Private Partnerships.

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