Some of the critical minerals are beryllium, germanium, rare earths (heavy and light), rhenium, tantalum.
For India's manufacturing sector to grow and for the country to transition to from a low to middle technology manufacturer to a high-tech one, twelve 'critical, non-fuel minerals' could play a key a role, said a new government funded report. Released by the Centre for Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), it focused on upping India's manufacturing capabilities, by 2030, in a "range of industries and modern applications" such as "aerospace, automobiles, cameras, defece, entertainment systems, laptops, medical imaging, nuclear energy, and smartphones."
Some of the critical minerals are beryllium, germanium, rare earths (heavy and light), rhenium, tantalum.
The report also shone a light on the government's keen interest in expanding mining in the country, coming, as it does, on the heels of the centre's new National Mineral Exploration Policy, 2016 which focusses on "prioritisation of regional and detailed exploration critical minerals of importance to industry and national security".
Speaking at the release, Secretary Mines, Balvinder Kumar said that the Minister for Mines, Piyush Goel, was committed to raising the mining industry's GDP ratio by one per cent from its current 2.4 per cent.
He also spoke at length about the recent reforms in mines; allocating mines through fair and transparent auctions, allocating mines for 50 years instead of 30 years, setting up District Mineral Foundations for "socio economic development of the mining affected people" across the country, and setting up the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) for thrust on exploration. Commenting On the uses of this study, Kumar laid much emphasis on framing policies that deal with national security and high-tech manufacturing. That was an area where India needed "self-reliance and respect".
The Mines Ministry has already notified the Atomic Minerals Concession Rules, and is working to bring out the Exclusive Economic Zone Offshore Concession Rules, he said.
Under the new policy, 100 blocks have been identified by the Geological Survey of India, which will be subsequently allowed through auction or competitive bidding. A baseline survey of 8 lakh sqkm Obvious Geological Potential areas, spanning three years, is on the cards.
All exploration data, the secretary promised would be in the public domain and the ministry is currently digitising 6000 reports.
About 50-60 blocks for offshore exploration have also been identified and the requisite rules will be framed in the coming three months.
To take into account environmental concerns that go hand in hand with mining, CEEW said that these minerals would also play a role in "nurturing the domestic manufacturing capacity to support the government's low-carbon plans," such as the 100 GW solar target, faster adoption and manufacturing of hybrid and electric vehicles, and the national domestic efficient lighting programme.
It also stressed on the need for decreasing India's reliance on imports. India currently has no declared domestic reserves for majority of the identified critical minerals and "may be heavily import dependent on China" for a few of them over the coming years. China is currently a leading global supplier for 6 out of the 12 mineral resources identified as critical for India by 2030.
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