India’s critical mineral push: Govt plans processing parks in 4 states; lithium and nickel in focus
India’s critical mineral roadmap is advancing, with the government set to establish four dedicated critical mineral processing parks in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The initial focus will be on building domestic processing capacity for lithium and nickel, mines secretary Keshav Chandra said on Thursday.The proposed parks will be developed around specific minerals, creating dedicated ecosystems that bring processing and downstream industries together. Lithium and nickel have been prioritised because of their importance to the battery sector, while processing for other critical minerals will be taken up subsequently.“We are fast-tracking lithium and nickel because these are crucial elements for the battery sector. Batteries are currently the most important component globally for future growth; so, we will fast-track both of these,” Chandra said while briefing reporters.The government will soon introduce measures for the two minerals and is in the process of identifying designated parks, he said.“Batteries are currently the most important component globally for future growth. So, we are fast-tracking both of these…..we will introduce measures for these two very soon, and we are identifying designated parks for them,” Chandra added.Each park will be designed to house the complete value chain for a designated element, from processing to downstream industries. This will allow value addition across different stages to be carried out within a single location, the official said.State governments will take the lead in planning and implementing the parks, while the Centre will provide technical support. Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy said the Centre had already written to all state governments and chief ministers seeking their cooperation.“The planning itself will be by the state government. We will extend full technical support,” he said.The proposed parks form part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), which the government had earlier approved with a total outlay of Rs 34,300 crore over seven years. The mission aims to achieve self-reliance in critical minerals and accelerate India’s journey towards green energy transition.The government has earmarked Rs 16,300 crore for the mission, while public sector enterprises are expected to contribute Rs 18,000 crore. The NCMM also seeks to promote exploration of critical minerals within the country and offshore locations.Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earths are essential raw materials for clean energy technologies. Their applications span wind turbines, electricity networks, electric vehicles and battery manufacturing.
