Joshi says Mineral Security Partnerships are sought in various countries
Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) has initiated engagement with several state-owned organizations of the shortlisted resource-rich countries including Argentina and Australia to acquire critical minerals for domestic industrial market.
This update was given by Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Rajya Sabha 11 Dec 2023.
The KABIL engagement to acquire mineral assets overseas primarily the critical & strategic resources is through Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassies.
Furthermore, the Mines Ministry is also actively involved in Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) and other multilateral and bilateral partnerships with various countries to secure the critical mineral demand of India, said Joshi.
In addition, the Ministry of Mines under its ‘Science and Technology Programme’ provides grants for Promotion of Research and Innovation in Start-ups and MSMEs in Mining, Mineral Processing, Metallurgy and Recycling Sector (S&T-PRISM). One of the thrust areas under S&T-PRISM includes focus on extraction of strategic and critical minerals at elemental level.
The Central Government has further amended the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957) through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, whereby 24 critical and strategic minerals have been inserted in part D to the Schedule-I of the MMDR Act, 1957 which have been identified as critical and strategic minerals for the country.
Meanwhile, the Government has launched first tranche of auction of these minerals on 29 Nov 2023 for 20 blocks.
These are:
Chutia-Nauhatta Glauconite Block and Pipradih-Bhurwa Glauconite Block in Bihar for exploiting Glauconite;
Genjana Nickel, Chromium and PGE Block in Bihar for exploiting Nickel, Chromium and PGE;
Kundol Nickel and Chromium Block in Gujarat for exploiting Nickel & Chromium;
Muskaniya-Gareriatola-Barwari Potash Block in Jharkhand for exploiting Potash;
Dudhiasol East Nickel and Copper Block in Odisha for exploiting Nickel and Copper;
Babja Graphite and Manganese Block in Odisha for exploiting Graphite and Manganese;
Biarapalli Graphite and Manganese Block in Odisha for exploiting Graphite and Manganese;
Akharkata Graphite Block in Odisha for exploiting Graphite;
Vellakal Central (Segment-A) Molybdenum Block in Tamil Nadu for exploiting Molybdenum Ore;
Nochchipatti Molybednum Block in Tamil Nadu for exploiting Molybdenum Ore;
Velampatti North A & B Molybdenum Block in Tamil Nadu for exploiting Molybdenum Ore;
Kurunjakulam Graphite Block in Tamil Nadu for Graphite;
Iluppakudi Graphite Block in Tamil Nadu for Graphite;
Mannadipatti Central Molybdenum Block in Tamil Nadu for Molybdenum;
Marudipatti (Central) Molybdenum Block in Tamil Nadu for Molybdenum;
Kurchha Glauconite Block in Uttar Pradesh for Glauconite;
PahadiKalan – Gora Kalan Phosphorite Block in Uttar Pradesh for Phosphorite;
Salal-Haimna Lithium, Titanium and Bauxite (Aluminous Laterite) Block in Jammu and Kashmir for Lithium, Titanium and Bauxite (Aluminous Laterite);
Katghora Lithium and REE Block in Chhattisgarh for Lithium and REE.
A National Institute or “Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals” (CECM) is being set up to notify the critical mineral strategy from time to time, the Minister told the house. Fiinews.com
