India is stepping up efforts to shake off its heavy dependence on China for key critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, turning instead to global partners to secure its supplies. At the 6th International Energy Conference and Exhibition in New Delhi on September 22, Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs’ NEST division, shared how the country is diversifying its sources to build a more resilient supply chain.
Singhvi highlighted a fresh memorandum of understanding signed with Argentina on critical minerals, with talks underway with other nations too. “We’re exploring international markets to meet our domestic needs,” he said, pointing out India’s current vulnerabilities. The nation relies 100% on imports for lithium and cobalt, and leans heavily on foreign sources for nickel, copper, and graphite—much of it from China, which dominates the global market.
This push comes amid growing concerns over price swings, geopolitical risks, and supply bottlenecks. India has its own rare earth mineral resources, but lacks the processing tech to turn raw ore into usable materials for industries like electronics and clean energy. To tackle this, the government launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) and updated the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in 2023, aiming to boost local production and snag overseas assets.
These moves aren’t just business deals—they’re strategic plays to protect India’s future mineral needs, Singhvi emphasized. Already, India has inked pacts with Argentina for lithium exploration, and eyes spots like Australia as key alternatives.
On the sidelines of the summit, Sanjiva de Silva, Counsellor for Energy, Resources, and Climate Change at the Australian High Commission, echoed the excitement. Australia and India have collaborated for three years on projects to feed India’s demand for critical minerals. “We’ve got an interim Economic Trade Agreement in place, and we’re pushing hard for a full comprehensive one,” de Silva told .
He urged Indian firms and the government to follow the lead of China, Japan, and South Korea, which invested early in Australia’s mineral sector. “It’s a competitive field, but we’re encouraging India to jump in now to lock in the supplies it needs,” de Silva added, noting that tariffs aren’t the main hurdle—it’s about forward-thinking investments in supply chain diversification.
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