Gandhinagar, Gujarat – Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel kicked off the first Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference on October 9 at Ganpat University in Mehsana. The two‑day event, aimed at boosting the state’s mining and green‑energy sectors, drew industry leaders, policymakers and academics.
On the opening day, the Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) hosted a seminar titled “Critical Minerals: Opportunities in New Emerging Sectors.” Patel attended the session and received a Rs 237.67‑crore cheque from GMDC Managing Director Roopwant Singh. Singh outlined GMDC’s plans to grow Gujarat’s mineral industry and shared data on the state’s expanding mining and energy projects.
The conference featured a panel led by Singh, with Alastair Neill and Bhaskar Rakshit presenting on critical minerals. They covered India’s global supply‑chain needs, the role of lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare‑earth elements in clean‑energy tech, and opportunities for Gujarat investors. Partners from Kearney, a lithium‑recycling firm and Mahindra Limited also joined the discussion.
GMDC highlighted its International Centre of Excellence in Mining Safety and Automation, which develops new technologies and skills for safer, greener mining. The centre supports collaborations between government, industry and universities.
India’s aerospace and defence sectors rely on titanium alloys and rare‑earth magnets for aircraft engines, radar, missile guidance and avionics. Gujarat is positioning itself as a key supplier in this high‑tech supply chain and has earmarked Rs 4,500 crore for critical‑minerals projects.
As part of the Gujarat Green Vehicle Policy 2025, the state is offering subsidies to boost electric‑vehicle adoption and expand charging infrastructure. By focusing on exploration, sustainable exploitation and local job creation, Gujarat aims to secure a steady supply of the essential minerals that power battery‑electric cars, wind turbines, solar panels and advanced electronics.
With a growing emphasis on clean energy and defence modernization, critical minerals—lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare‑earths, copper, silicon and gallium—are becoming central to India’s transition to a low‑carbon economy. The conference underscored the need for reliable access to these resources and outlined strategies to strengthen India’s global supply‑chain position.
Source: aninews
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