The Ministry of Mines had constituted a Committee on 01.11.2022 to identify the critical and strategic minerals. The Committee had, inter-alia, recommended to establish a National Institute or “Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals” (CECM). The purpose of CECM is to periodically update the list of critical minerals for India, preferably every three years, and to notify the critical mineral strategy from time to time. The committee has recommended 30 minerals are critical for the country, out of which 24 minerals are included in the list of critical and strategic mineral in Part D of Schedule 1 of MMDR Act.
A joint venture company namely Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) has been incorporated with the equity contribution from three Central Public Sector Enterprises namely, National Aluminium Company Ltd, Hindustan Copper Ltd and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Ltd with the objective to ensure consistent supply of critical and strategic minerals to Indian domestic market. On basis of commissioned study and selection criteria, KABIL has initiated engagement with several state owned organizations of the shortlisted source countries through Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassies in countries like Argentina and Australia to acquire mineral assets overseas primarily the critical & strategic minerals.
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. Further, the amended Act has also empowered Central Government to auction critical and strategic minerals blocks. Government of India has launched first tranche of auction of these minerals on 29th November, 2023 for 20 blocks. The details of the blocks are at Annexure.
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.
Furthermore, the Ministry is also actively involved in Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) and other multilateral/ bilateral partnerships with various countries to secure the critical mineral demand of India. Under India’s G20 presidency, recognizing the significance of the role of critical minerals in global energy transition the Ministry of Mines got it included in the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration.
Annexure
The details of Critical Mineral Blocks which have been notified for auction are as detailed below:
Sl No | Block Name | State | Mineral | ML/ CL |
1 | Chutia-Nauhatta Glauconite Block | Bihar | Glauconite | CL |
2 | Pipradih-Bhurwa Glauconite Block | Bihar | Glauconite | CL |
3 | Genjana Nickel, Chromium and PGE Block | Bihar | Nickel, Chromium and PGE | CL |
4 | Kundol Nickel and Chromium Block | Gujarat | Nickel & Chromium | CL |
5 | Muskaniya-Gareriatola-Barwari Potash Block | Jharkhand | Potash | CL |
6 | Dudhiasol East Nickel and Copper Block | Odisha | Nickel and Copper |
ML
|
7 | Babja Graphite and Manganese Block | Odisha | Graphite and Manganese | ML |
8 | Biarapalli Graphite and Manganese Block | Odisha | Graphite and Manganese | ML |
9 | Akharkata Graphite Block | Odisha | Graphite | CL |
10 | Vellakal Central (Segment-A) Molybdenum Block | Tamil Nadu | Molybdenum Ore | CL |
11 | Nochchipatti Molybednum Block | Tamil Nadu | Molybdenum Ore | CL |
12 | Velampatti North A & B Molybdenum Block | Tamil Nadu | Molybdenum Ore | CL |
13 | Kurunjakulam Graphite Block | Tamil Nadu | Graphite | CL |
14 | Iluppakudi Graphite Block | Tamil Nadu | Graphite | CL |
15 | Mannadipatti Central Molybdenum Block | Tamil Nadu | Molybdenum | CL |
16 | Marudipatti (Central) Molybdenum Block | Tamil Nadu | Molybdenum | ML |
17 | Kurchha Glauconite Block | Uttar Pradesh | Glauconite | CL |
18 | PahadiKalan - Gora Kalan Phosphorite Block | Uttar Pradesh | Phosphorite | CL |
19 | Salal-Haimna Lithium, Titanium and Bauxite (Aluminous Laterite) Block | UT: Jammu and Kashmir | Lithium, Titanium and Bauxite(Aluminous Laterite) | CL |
20 | Katghora Lithium and REE Block | Chhattisgarh | Lithium and REE | CL |
This information was given by Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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