Minister updates Lok Sabha on mineral mining
India has intensified efforts to scale up domestic production of rare earth permanent magnets and accelerate exploration of critical minerals such as lithium, with production capacity targeted to reach 5,000 tonnes by 2030, Minister of State of Atomic Energy Dr Jitendra Singh told Lok Sabha on 25 Mar.
Replying to a series of questions during the Question Hour in the ongoing Budget Session, the Minister said that the country’s current requirement of rare earth permanent magnets is about 4,000 tonnes, which is projected to rise to nearly 8,000 tonnes by 2030, highlighting the need for rapid expansion of domestic capabilities.
He also informed that a pilot project on neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets has recently been launched, while a samarium-cobalt magnet plant at Visakhapatnam has been made operational with an initial production capacity of 500 tonnes per year. This capacity will be scaled up to 2,000 tonnes in the next phase and further to 5,000 tonnes by 2030.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the government is working in close coordination across ministries under a whole-of-government approach to fast-track exploration and development of critical minerals.
He further shared that preliminary survey activities are already underway and further exploration is expected to begin soon.
He added that lithium exploration falls under the Ministry of Mines, and similar efforts are also in progress in Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that lithium and rare earth elements are critical for sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics, defence, aerospace, and space applications, and will play an important role in supporting clean energy transition as well as emerging technologies requiring reliable energy systems.
The Minister also informed that recent policy measures, including provisions under the Atomic Energy (Amendment) framework, have opened up exploration of several critical minerals to private sector participation, with safeguards in place for strategic resources such as uranium.
Referring to recent initiatives, he said that rare earth corridors have been announced in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala to strengthen the domestic ecosystem for processing and value addition.
He pointed out that rare earth elements are found both in beach sand minerals and rock formations, and their exploration requires different approaches depending on geological conditions.
He added that some regions, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Jharkhand, have significant deposits of rock-based minerals which are relatively more complex to explore.
On concerns related to environmental impact, he clarified that mining-related safeguards fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Mines and associated regulatory frameworks, and emphasized the need to curb illegal mining.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that India is steadily strengthening its position in the critical minerals sector with a focus on reducing import dependence, enhancing domestic production, and building a resilient supply chain to support future industrial and technological growth. fiinews.com
