Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal said a key government scheme for processing critical minerals is at an advanced stage of finalisation as India seeks to secure supply chains amid global competition for lithium and other resources. He said India is unable to import lithium that is available abroad because a domestic processing value chain is not yet in place. The announcement reflects efforts to reduce dependence on foreign processing and to support strategic industries.

The scheme is expected to significantly enhance the resilience of electric vehicle batteries in the country once implemented. Details will be released after formal approval of the plan, and the ministry indicated that operational frameworks and incentives are being finalised. Officials are positioning the initiative as part of a broader industrial strategy.

Goyal said India is eyeing critical mineral blocks in Canada and is exploring opportunities to invest in lithium projects in Brazil, Argentina and Australia. He noted that production from five lithium blocks in Argentina is likely to begin in 2029, which would form part of diversified overseas sourcing. The approach combines domestic capacity building with strategic international partnerships.

State firms Coal India, NTPC Mining and Hindustan Copper are reported to be in talks with Codelco for the acquisition of four copper blocks in Chile as part of efforts to secure supply for downstream processing. The secretary expressed confidence that India would become a net exporter of copper from next year, reflecting anticipated gains in domestic production and processing capacity.

Critical minerals include lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, nickel and graphite and are essential for clean energy technologies, electric vehicles, advanced electronics and defence systems. The government had last year approved a Rs 163 billion (bn) National Critical Mineral Mission, envisaging a total outlay of Rs 343 billion (bn) spread over seven years to foster self-reliance and accelerate the green energy transition. India remains heavily dependent on imports of key minerals such as lithium and cobalt, and the mission is intended to reduce that vulnerability.