Lok Sabha Question No. 1558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Import of Minerals
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Harish Chandra Meena, Dr. Mohammad Jawed, Shri Benny Behanan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1558 ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## IMPORT OF MINERALS

1558. SHRI BENNY BEHANAN: DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED: SHRI HARISH CHANDRA MEENA:

Will the Minister of MINES

be pleased to state:

- (a) the details regarding quantum and value of minerals imported since 2019, State-
- wise; (b)  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  environmental  degradation arising from activities such as pitting, trenching, drilling, and subsurface excavation permitted under The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023; (c)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  proposes  to  coordinate  with  State Governments  on  resource  management  for  the  auction  of  specified  critical  and strategic minerals; and (d) whether this Act is expected to reduce economic dependency on mineral imports
- without disrupting the supply chain and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) Year-wise quantity and value of import of top ten major minerals (which account for over 97% of import value of major minerals) from FY 2018-19 to FY 2023-24 are given at Annexure. State-wise trade data is not maintained. Export/ Import data is available product/ country/ period wise.

(b)  Exploration  activities  for  various  mineral  commodities,  which  includes  pitting, trenching and drilling, are carried out after giving due care to environmental concerns. In  the  forest  areas  especially,  exploration  activities  are  carried  out  as  per  the provisions laid down  in the Forest  Conservation  Act,  1980  and  subsequent amendments after taking due permission from the forest authorities.

(c)  &  (d):  In  order  to  boost  the  domestic  supply  of  critical  minerals,  the  Central Government has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation)

(MMDR)  Act,  1957  through  the  MMDR  Amendment  Act,  2023  with  effect  from 17.08.2023.  Through  the  said  amendment,  the  Central  Government  has  been empowered to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for 24 critical and strategic minerals listed in the new Part-D of the First Schedule to the said Act.

Even though auction for critical and strategic minerals is done by the Central Government, the mining leases are granted by the State Governments only and the revenue from mining operations also accrue to the State Governments. Thus, there is clear demarcation of responsibilities and powers of the Central Government and State Government with respect to resource management of critical and strategic minerals.

The objective of the said amendment is to increase exploration and mining of critical minerals and to ensure self-sufficiency in supply of critical minerals which are essential  for  the  advancement  of  many  sectors,  including  high-tech  electronics, telecommunications, transport and defense. They are also vital for the transition to a low-emission  economy,  and  the  renewable  technologies  required  to  meet  the  'Net Zero' commitment of India by 2070.

The  auction  of  critical  and  strategic  minerals  brings  several  key  benefits, including  bolstering  domestic  production,  reducing  import  dependency,  promoting sustainable resource management, attracting investments in the mining sector and the development  of key industries crucial for India's industrial and  technological advancement. This is a step for creating a reliable supply chain of these minerals towards making of an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', and contributing to increased economic growth.

*****

## ANNEXURE

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  of  LS  USQ  No.  1558  answered  on 31.07.2024 regarding 'IMPORT OF MINERALS'

Table: Import of Major Minerals

(Quantity in lakh ton) (Value in Rs. Crore)

| Mineral             | 2018-19                                                                  | 2018-19                                                                  | 2019-20                                                                  | 2019-20                                                                  | 2020-21                                                                  | 2020-21                                                                  | 2021-22                                                                  | 2021-22                                                                  | 2022-23                                                                  | 2022-23                                                                  | 2023-24                                                                  | 2023-24                                                                  |
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Mineral             | Qty                                                                      | Value                                                                    | Qty                                                                      | Value                                                                    | Qty                                                                      | Value                                                                    | Qty                                                                      | Value                                                                    | Qty                                                                      | Value                                                                    | Qty                                                                      | Value                                                                    |
| Copper Ores & Conc. | 8.23                                                                     | 12,146                                                                   | 8.22                                                                     | 8,668                                                                    | 4.15                                                                     | 5,907                                                                    | 10.19                                                                    | 22,381                                                                   | 11.78                                                                    | 27,374                                                                   | 10.16                                                                    | 25,951                                                                   |
| Phosphorite         | 75.04                                                                    | 5,625                                                                    | 76.38                                                                    | 5,402                                                                    | 77.25                                                                    | 5,316                                                                    | 96.25                                                                    | 10,433                                                                   | 90.89                                                                    | 15,125                                                                   | 88.02                                                                    | 12,649                                                                   |
| Manganese Ore       | 27.56                                                                    | 4,848                                                                    | 28.42                                                                    | 4,128                                                                    | 39.52                                                                    | 5,524                                                                    | 65                                                                       | 9,642                                                                    | 46.41                                                                    | 8,262                                                                    | 55.98                                                                    | 7,760                                                                    |
| Limestone           | 243.97                                                                   | 3,667                                                                    | 256.39                                                                   | 3,743                                                                    | 227.97                                                                   | 3,291                                                                    | 275.82                                                                   | 4,901                                                                    | 297.36                                                                   | 6,259                                                                    | 338.09                                                                   | 6,616                                                                    |
| Iron Ore            | 168.31                                                                   | 5,914                                                                    | 75.15                                                                    | 941                                                                      | 72.42                                                                    | 845                                                                      | 66.81                                                                    | 3,539                                                                    | 17.91                                                                    | 1,595                                                                    | 49.59                                                                    | 4,397                                                                    |
| Bauxite             | 20.75                                                                    | 1,222                                                                    | 22.46                                                                    | 1,081                                                                    | 30.33                                                                    | 1,370                                                                    | 30.08                                                                    | 1,895                                                                    | 35.95                                                                    | 2,340                                                                    | 45.02                                                                    | 2,822                                                                    |
| Asbestos            | 3.64                                                                     | 1,225                                                                    | 3.61                                                                     | 1,243                                                                    | 3.08                                                                     | 1,185                                                                    | 4.37                                                                     | 1,663                                                                    | 4.04                                                                     | 2,294                                                                    | 4.65                                                                     | 2,326                                                                    |
| Sulphur             | 13.46                                                                    | 1,522                                                                    | 12.35                                                                    | 824                                                                      | 14.63                                                                    | 1,095                                                                    | 18.95                                                                    | 3,536                                                                    | 13.37                                                                    | 2,677                                                                    | 17.08                                                                    | 1,737                                                                    |
| Magnesite           | 3.48                                                                     | 1,073                                                                    | 3.01                                                                     | 928                                                                      | 3.06                                                                     | 750                                                                      | 3.74                                                                     | 1,279                                                                    | 4.75                                                                     | 1,529                                                                    | 4.72                                                                     | 1,480                                                                    |
| Fluorspar           | 2.58                                                                     | 713                                                                      | 2.32                                                                     | 707                                                                      | 2.13                                                                     | 593                                                                      | 2.81                                                                     | 767                                                                      | 3.04                                                                     | 1,134                                                                    | 2.52                                                                     | 1,030                                                                    |
| Others              | 3.32                                                                     | 649                                                                      | 2.70                                                                     | 492                                                                      | 3.03                                                                     | 549                                                                      | 3.98                                                                     | 1,079                                                                    | 2.75                                                                     | 1,536                                                                    | 3.59                                                                     | 1,865                                                                    |
| Total               | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 | 570.3438,604491.0128,157477.5726,425578.0061,115528.2570,125619.4268,633 |