India to Seek Critical Minerals Deals With Brazil, Canada and Europe

13 Feb 2026 CW Team

Officials said the push reflects concern over heavy reliance on China, which dominates global supplies of many minerals and holds advanced mining and processing capabilities. The outreach is part of a broader strategy to accelerate the energy transition and cut emissions while diversifying supply chains. Mining remains a lengthy undertaking as exploration alone typically runs five to seven years and often does not result in a viable mine.

India seeks to emulate elements of a critical minerals agreement signed with Germany in January that covers exploration, processing and recycling as well as the acquisition and development of mineral assets in both countries and in third countries. The Ministry of Mines is leading the effort and sources said talks with France, the Netherlands and Brazil are under way while an agreement with Canada is under active consideration. Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, is likely to visit India in early March and to sign deals concerning uranium, energy, minerals and artificial intelligence, according to officials. Canada's Natural Resources Department referenced a January statement that both sides had agreed to formalise cooperation on critical minerals.

India has already signed pacts related to critical minerals with Argentina, Australia and Japan and is engaged in talks with Peru and Chile on broader bilateral arrangements. The expanding engagement coincides with recent discussions by finance ministers from major economies on reducing dependence on rare earths from China. In 2023 the government identified more than 20 minerals, including lithium, as critical to the energy transition and to meet rising demand from industry and infrastructure. Securing diverse sources and processing technology remains a strategic priority for policymakers.

India is conducting talks with Brazil, Canada, France and the Netherlands to seek cooperative arrangements to explore, extract, process and recycle critical minerals. The discussions are focused on lithium and rare earths and also aim to secure access to mineral processing technologies. Sources declined to be identified because the negotiations remain confidential. Officials said the push reflects concern over heavy reliance on China, which dominates global supplies of many minerals and holds advanced mining and processing capabilities. The outreach is part of a broader strategy to accelerate the energy transition and cut emissions while diversifying supply chains. Mining remains a lengthy undertaking as exploration alone typically runs five to seven years and often does not result in a viable mine. India seeks to emulate elements of a critical minerals agreement signed with Germany in January that covers exploration, processing and recycling as well as the acquisition and development of mineral assets in both countries and in third countries. The Ministry of Mines is leading the effort and sources said talks with France, the Netherlands and Brazil are under way while an agreement with Canada is under active consideration. Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, is likely to visit India in early March and to sign deals concerning uranium, energy, minerals and artificial intelligence, according to officials. Canada's Natural Resources Department referenced a January statement that both sides had agreed to formalise cooperation on critical minerals. India has already signed pacts related to critical minerals with Argentina, Australia and Japan and is engaged in talks with Peru and Chile on broader bilateral arrangements. The expanding engagement coincides with recent discussions by finance ministers from major economies on reducing dependence on rare earths from China. In 2023 the government identified more than 20 minerals, including lithium, as critical to the energy transition and to meet rising demand from industry and infrastructure. Securing diverse sources and processing technology remains a strategic priority for policymakers.

Real Estate

03 Apr 2026

Loomcraft Enters South India with Kerala Store Launch

Loomcraft has launched its exclusive store in Kerala, marking its entry into South India and a key step in its nationwide expansion strategy. The move targets a region driven by tourism and premium real estate demand, where outdoor spaces play a central role in hospitality and residential experiences.Kerala’s growing base of luxury resorts, boutique hotels, villas and gated communities has created strong demand for specialised outdoor furniture. However, the region has remained underserved, with buyers relying on imports or generic products not suited to humid, coastal and monsoon-heavy cond..

Building Material

03 Apr 2026

Mild Steel Prices Seen Rising to Rs 61,000 Per Tonne

Mild steel prices in India, currently around Rs 58,000 per tonne, are expected to rise to nearly Rs 61,000 per tonne in April, indicating an increase of about Rs 3,000 per tonne. The anticipated rise reflects structural pressures driven by geopolitical tensions, energy constraints and limited raw material availability.Ongoing global conflict has disrupted energy markets, leading to LNG shortages that are affecting domestic steel production. Small and mid-sized manufacturers, particularly those dependent on gas-based processes, are witnessing production cuts due to constrained energy supply, re..

Infrastructure Urban

01 Mar 2026

Vedanta Expands Transgender Workforce to 75 Employees

Vedanta has strengthened its commitment to workplace inclusion by employing 75 transgender individuals across its businesses, including Vedanta Aluminium, Hindustan Zinc, Sesa Goa, FACOR and Cairn Oil & Gas. The initiative reflects sustained hiring efforts since 2022 to build equitable opportunities across operations, corporate and technical roles.Transgender employees are engaged in functions such as operations, finance, logistics, HR, CSR, healthcare and security, with provisions for internal mobility to support career progression. The company has implemented structured policies, includi..