India is increasingly relying on private companies to acquire critical minerals abroad, focusing on strategic investments, semi-processing, and recycling to reduce import dependence and bolster supply chains for key industries.
India is leaning more heavily on private companies to secure overseas supplies of critical minerals, with Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy saying the government wants firms to buy stakes in mineral-rich countries, carry out semi-processing abroad and ship raw materials back to India. Speaking on the sidelines of the CII Global Summit on Advanced Minerals in New Delhi on Friday, Reddy said the aim is to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen supply security for industries such as electronics, clean energy, defence and space technology.
Reddy said the push is happening alongside government-to-government efforts, but that private sector participation is now central to the plan. According to the minister, Indian embassies and foreign missions in India can help companies identify opportunities for land acquisition, mining and processing in mineral-rich countries. He also said India has already secured five lithium blocks in Argentina, where exploration is under way, while discussions continue with Australia and Chile.
The minister’s remarks build on a broader policy drive that has accelerated over the past year. Business Standard reported in April that the Centre is seeking greater self-reliance in minerals, with urban mining and coal gasification also being promoted as future sources of critical materials. Nation Press said India has established strategic partnerships with 24 countries and is in talks with 11 more, while Khanij Bidesh India Ltd remains the main state-backed vehicle for overseas mineral acquisitions.
Domestically, the government is backing the sector with incentives under the National Critical Mineral Mission, which Reddy said includes Rs 36,000 crore in support. He also pointed to recycling as an important source of future supply, saying 25% to 30% of India’s needs could eventually come from recovered materials. According to the minister, 58 entities have been shortlisted in the first round of a recycling scheme worth Rs 1,500 crore, and four processing plants are being set up in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to handle imported minerals, domestic output and recycled feedstock.
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