India expands critical minerals push, partners with 35 countries to secure supply chains

New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) India has significantly expanded its global outreach to secure supplies of critical minerals and strengthen semiconductor supply chains, signing partnerships with 24 countries while holding negotiations with 11 others over the past two years.

The initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce dependence on concentrated supply sources and ensure long-term access to minerals essential for clean energy, electric vehicles (EVs), advanced manufacturing, defence, and semiconductor production.

According to the Ministry of Mines, India has developed a strategic network spanning North America, Europe, Africa, West Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

The approach extends beyond sourcing raw materials and includes cooperation in mineral exploration, mining, processing, technology transfer, investment, and resilient supply chains.

India has already established cooperation frameworks with countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Vietnam, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Russia.

These partnerships cover a wide range of strategic resources such as lithium, cobalt, copper, rare earth elements, and other critical minerals, alongside collaboration in semiconductor technologies, energy security, and investment.

At the same time, India is in discussions with countries including Chile, Peru, Zambia, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Myanmar, and Indonesia to expand cooperation in lithium, copper, rare earths, and other strategic mineral resources.

A key pillar of the strategy is strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem. Collaborations with technology leaders such as Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United States are expected to support domestic chip manufacturing capabilities and improve India’s integration into global semiconductor supply chains.

Critical minerals — including lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements — are indispensable for EV batteries, renewable energy storage, wind turbines, solar infrastructure, defence systems, aerospace applications, and high-end electronics. Securing reliable access to these materials has become a strategic priority for countries seeking to accelerate clean energy transitions while reducing exposure to geopolitical supply disruptions.

–IANS

pk