Lok Sabha Question No. 1609 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Critical Minerals for Green Transition
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1609

ANSWERED ON 31.07.2024

## CRITICAL MINERALS FOR GREEN TRANSITION

1609.  PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether lithium, copper, cobalt, graphite and other critical minerals are essential for the economy's green transition and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the details of the States where the above reserves have been found;
- (c) the reason for hiccups in the auction process;
- (d) the details of the countries dominating global supplies of the above minerals;
- (e) whether the Government has started the bidding for exploring above critical minerals; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Yes Sir.  Critical minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt, graphite and other critical minerals  are  essential  for  the  economy's  green  transition.  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. The minerals like lithium, copper, cobalt, graphite and others are used in Electric Vehicle, Batteries, glassware, ceramics, fuel manufacturing and Lubricant. The minerals like potash, glauconite and phosphate has several uses in chemical and fertilizer industry.

(b)   Geological  Survey  of  India  is  a  nodal  agency  of  the  Government  of  India  for exploration of mineral across the country. GSI takes up different stages of mineral exploration following the guidelines of United Nations Framework Classification and subsequent  amendments  with  an  aim  to  augment  resource  for  various  mineral commodities including lithium in different parts of the country as per approved annual field season programme. The reserves of the critical minerals have been found in the States of Andhra  Pradesh,  Arunachal  Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand,  Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Odisha,  Rajasthan,  Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

(c) There are no hiccups in the auction process of the critical minerals. Out of the 38 critical mineral blocks notified for auction, 14 blocks have been auctioned successfully.

(d)   Globally  the  reserves  of  Critical  minerals  are  mainly  concentrated  in  Australia, Argentina, China, Chile, Canada, Congo, Mozambique, South Africa etc.

(e) & (f)  The  Central  Government  has  amended  'The  Mines  and  Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957', in 2023 to empower Central Government to exclusively auction blocks for 24 critical and strategic minerals. So far 14 blocks have been successfully auctioned. In order to promote exploration of critical and deepseated minerals, a new mineral concession namely, Exploration Licence has been introduced for 29 deep-seated minerals, of which many are of critical minerals, which will permit the licencee to undertake reconnaissance and prospecting operations for these minerals. GSI has handed over 20 blocks for auction as exploration license to State Governments of which 12 blocks are notified for auction by State of Rajasthan, Karnataka,  Maharashtra,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Madhya  Pradesh  and  Chhattisgarh. Further to encourage private participation in exploration, Ministry of Mines has notified 22 private exploration agencies (NPEAs). These agencies are taking up exploration projects through funding from National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET).

The Government of India has successfully auctioned 14 blocks of critical mineral of which 12 blocks are for composite licence. Further, 21 blocks of critical mineral are notified for auction, of which 20 are for composite licence. The successful bidder of composite  licence  blocks  will  first  explore  the  block  before  starting  the  mining operation.

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