Lok Sabha Question No. 3800 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-08
Subject: Shortage of Critical Minerals
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: BHEEMRAO BASWANTHRAO PATIL, RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3800 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH  DECEMBER, 2016 SHORTAGE OF CRITICAL MINERALS

## 3800. SHRI BHEEMRAO B. PATIL: SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that potential of minerals is untapped fully despite having vast  mineral  resources  in  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and,  the  reasons  therefor alongwith the steps taken in this regard so far;
- (b) whether  the  country  is  likely  to  face  acute  shortage  of  critical  minerals  necessary  for developing clean-energy applications, infrastructure for its solar mission and for manufacturing high-technology products in future, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the country is also likely to be largely dependent on China in the coming years to source such materials for its manufacturing sector and is at present 100% import dependent for critical minerals, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the measures taken by the Government to reduce such dependence?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER, COAL, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (d): India is endowed with a potential for vast mineral resources. Exploration for minerals is a  continuous  process  and  the  quantity  of  resources  is  updated  on  a  regular  basis.  Geological Survey  of  India  (GSI),  an  attached  office  of  the  Ministry  of  Mines,  is  taking  up  measures  to increase the mineral exploration activity at deeper levels to discover different mineral deposits through its Annual Field Season Programmes. Atomic Minerals Directorate, Mineral Exploration Corporation  Limited,  State  Directorates  of  Geology  &  Mining,  State/Central  Undertakings  and Private Enterprises are also engaged in detailed exploration to identify mineral deposits.

India  is  dependent  on  imports  for  many  critical  elements  like  rare  earths  elements,  selenium, germanium, rhenium etc. required for clean-energy applications, solar cells and high technology products.

In pursuance of the MMDR Amendment Act 2015, the Government has established the National Mineral Exploration Trust with the prime objective of promoting regional and detailed mineral exploration  in  the  country.    Further,  the  Government  has  formulated  the  National  Mineral Exploration  Policy,  2016  for  accelerating  mineral  exploration  in  the  country  through  diverse measures like open dissemination of baseline geosciences data, launching of National Aerogeophysical  Mapping  Programme,  attractive  revenue  sharing  model  for  inviting  private investment in mineral exploration etc. All these are aimed towards exploration and discovery of mineral deposits including critical minerals. Out of 100 blocks identified by GSI for undertaking regional  exploration  by  private  and  public  agencies,  22  blocks  are  for  strategic  and  critical minerals.

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