India is stepping up its global outreach to secure critical minerals, holding talks with several countries as it looks to support its clean energy transition and reduce reliance on China for key raw materials.
India is in talks with Brazil, Canada, France and the Netherlands to sign agreements for the joint exploration, extraction, processing and recycling of critical minerals, as it ramps up efforts to secure key raw materials needed for its energy transition, Reuters reported.
The discussions are primarily centred on lithium and rare earth elements, with India also seeking access to advanced mineral-processing technologies, sources told Reuters. The talks are being conducted confidentially due to their strategic importance.
Reducing dependence on China
India’s outreach reflects its heavy reliance on China, which dominates global supplies of many critical minerals and leads in mining and processing technologies. As New Delhi accelerates its shift towards cleaner energy and works to cut emissions, experts say diversifying supply chains has become crucial. However, mining projects typically take years to materialise, with exploration alone often lasting five to seven years and frequently failing to result in viable mines.
Modelled on Germany agreement
India is looking to replicate elements of a critical minerals agreement signed with Germany in January. That deal covers exploration, processing and recycling, as well as the acquisition and development of mineral assets in both countries and in third nations, one of the sources said.
“There are requests and we are talking to France, the Netherlands and Brazil, while an agreement with Canada is under active consideration,” the source added. The Ministry of Mines is leading the negotiations.
Canada visit may advance talks
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit India in early March, during which agreements covering uranium, energy, minerals and artificial intelligence could be signed. Canada’s Natural Resources Department referred to a January statement saying both sides had agreed to formalise cooperation on critical minerals in the coming weeks.
Broader international outreach
Brazil’s embassy in New Delhi, India’s Ministry of Mines and the foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment, while the Dutch embassy declined to comment and the French embassy chose not to comment.
India has already signed critical minerals agreements with Argentina, Australia and Japan, and is in talks with Peru and Chile on broader bilateral pacts that also include mineral cooperation. This expanding international engagement comes as finance ministers from the G7 and other major economies met in Washington last month to discuss ways to reduce dependence on rare earth supplies from China.
Critical minerals list expanded
In 2023, India identified more than 20 minerals, including lithium, as “critical” for its energy transition and to meet growing demand from industry and infrastructure development.
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