India Accelerates Critical Minerals Exploration to Reduce Import Dependency, Says Dr. Jitendra Singh

New Delhi, March 26: The central government is intensifying its efforts in the exploration of critical minerals, promoting startups in the mining sector, and establishing a robust domestic supply chain to reduce import dependency. This was stated by Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday.

While addressing a meeting of the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMET), the minister emphasized the urgent need to expedite the exploration of essential minerals like lithium, which are crucial for new technologies.

He noted that India is now working towards significantly scaling up the exploration of critical minerals, creating a startup-based mining ecosystem, and developing a strong domestic value chain to minimize reliance on imports.

The minister also mentioned that India must align its mineral exploration activities with global demand and its strategic needs. Citing ongoing work in Rajasthan’s Siwana region and Jammu and Kashmir’s Salal-Haimna block, he indicated that such initiatives would be expanded to other areas.

Singh stressed the importance of creating a conducive environment for Indian companies and startups to enter this sector. He highlighted the success of biotech startups, suggesting that similar institutional support and incentives could foster new technologies and innovations in mining.

He further stated that enhancing the capacity of private exploration agencies is vital for the long-term growth of this sector.

The government is also working on simplifying the approval process to reduce delays in projects, particularly focusing on overcoming obstacles like forest clearance.

The minister asserted that improved coordination among various departments is essential for accelerating progress.

He explained that swift approvals, a better procurement system, and timely pre-exploration clearances will maintain the momentum of mineral exploration.

Additionally, he emphasized the necessity of developing a complete domestic supply chain, including processing and value addition, to lessen import dependency.