Lok Sabha Question No. 2225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: India and Sri Lanka Collaboration on Mineral Exploration
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2225

ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## INDIA AND SRI LANKA COLLABORATION ON MINERAL EXPLORATION

2225.

Shri Basavaraj Bommai: Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai: Shri Anurag Singh Thakur:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India is collaborating with Sri Lanka on mineral exploration and mining;
- (b) if so, the details of specific benefits for India therefrom;
- (c) the key provisions of this memorandum of understanding (MoU) and the manner in which it will facilitate bilateral collaboration in mineral exploration;
- (d) the  details  of  the  measures  that  are  being  considered  to  ensure  that  mineral exploration and  mining  activities under  this  partnership  are  environmentally sustainable;
- (e) whether  the  Government  is  considering  joint  research  and  technology-sharing initiatives to improve mining and mineral processing in both countries; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c):  Yes,  Sir.  Sri  Lanka  is  well-endowed  with  industrial  minerals  like  Graphite, Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon and phosphate, which are among the minerals identified as critical minerals for India. These minerals are essential for their uses in green technologies like solar  panels,  wind  turbines,  batteries,  and  electric  vehicles  which  are  integral  to  the transition toward clean energy and a low-carbon economy.

With the untapped mineral reserves of Sri Lanka, India stands to benefit significantly in boosting  its  resource  availability  of  critical  minerals  for  domestic  Industry.  Hence,  the Ministry  of  Mines  is  actively  engaging  with  Government  of  Sri  Lanka  to  sign  a Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  for  enhanced  cooperation  in  the  areas  of exploration, mining and capacity building.

(d): The National Mineral Policy, 2019, prioritizes sustainable mining by integrating environmental, economic, and social considerations into all mining decisions. It focuses on mitigating environmental impacts using scientific norms and afforestation practices, while encouraging the use of renewable energy to reduce pollution and carbon footprints. The policy also includes incentives for eco-friendly practices and provides training for workers  to  address  environmental  concerns,  ensuring  mining  operations  are  both responsible and sustainable.

This is the benchmark against which all mining operations domestic or abroad are to be evaluated  in  terms  of  their  comparative  performance  on  sustainable  development framework and enforce commitment on part of the mining companies to adopt sustainable development practices for achieving environmental and social goals.

(e)  and  (f):      The  proposed  MoU  contains  provision  for facilitating  joint  research  and technology sharing initiatives to improve mining and mineral processing in both countries.

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