Page 4 - Minerals

Lok Sabha passes mines and minerals amendment to up private sector role

The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the mines and mineral amendment bill which seeks to open up mining of deep-seated and critical minerals for the private sector. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, also empowers the central government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite licence for certain critical minerals. Deep-seated minerals include gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cobalt, platinum group of minerals, diamonds, etc, which are difficult and expensive to explore and mine as compared to surfacial or bulk minerals. "Thus share of deep-seated minerals in total mineral production is meagre at present. The country is mostly dependent on imports of these minerals. The proposed exploration licence would facilitate, encourage and incentivize private sector participation in all spheres of mineral exploration for critical and deep-seated minerals," according to the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill. Union Minister for Coal

Madhya Pradesh puts 51 blocks on auctions including 14 of critical minerals

Madhya Pradesh on Friday issued a tender notice for the auction of 51 mineral blocks, including 14 with critical minerals, according to a release. This is the highest number of mineral blocks notified for the auction in a single tranche by any state, the Mines Ministry said in the release. "Madhya Pradesh has announced the largest number ever of mineral blocks for auction. The state has issued Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for auction of a record number of 51 mineral blocks on July 14th," it said. The 51 blocks comprise 14 minerals including strategic and critical minerals like graphite and vanadium, platinum group of elements (PGE) and also other major minerals such as manganese, bauxite, limestone, iron ore, base metal and gold. "13 blocks are for mining lease and 38 blocks are for composite licence," it said. While mining lease is given for mines with proven reserves, composite licence for mines where some level of exploration is needed. Madhya Pradesh auctioned 29 blocks in ..

Critical minerals supply could pull close to demand by 2030, says IEA

Clean tech minerals market surges to $320 billion in 2022

China's curbs on critical metals a hurdle in India's chip road map

Though the decision comes as a retaliatory move against Western countries, it may impact not just India's ambition of becoming a semiconductor hub

India's critical mineral list a step towards supply-chain security: Experts

Critical minerals refer to mineral resources, primary and processed, which are essential inputs in the production process and whose supplies could be disrupted

Heavy metal: Centre releases first ever list of 30 key critical minerals

Lithium, cobalt, and silicon among 30 minerals identified

Ministry of Mines set to release list of critical minerals for India

The list will serve as a guiding framework for policy formulation, strategic planning, and investment decisions in the mining sector

India set to get its first list of critical minerals on Wednesday

The critical minerals list is likely to have more than 40 minerals

Centre to come up with list of critical minerals, draft policy this week

The critical minerals list is likely to have more than 40 minerals

Epsilon first Indian firm to invest $650 mn on EV battery parts plant in US

Move follows India-US minerals pact; firm to set up 50,000 mtpa plant with revenue generating potential of $500 million at full capacity utilisation

Minerals Security Partnership: What is it, and why is it important?

The Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) was announced in June 2022 by the US to strengthen critical mineral supply chains; India is not a part of the 11-member group

One-third of annual exploration projects are for critical minerals: GSI

Amid the buzz of 'green economy', the Geological Survey of India (GSI) is intensifying its exploration exercises for critical minerals, like lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements, with "one-third" of such projects being dedicated to the search of these resources, a top official said on Sunday. These critical minerals are key to clean energy technologies. The national survey organisation, which now has a working collaboration with Geoscience Australia for mineral exploration, is also in talks for tie-ups with the authorities in Russia and Brazil, GSI Deputy Director General (Policy Support System - Planning and Monitoring) Asit Saha said. "We have been taking up more than 100 exploration projects every year for critical minerals since 2020-21. The same trend continues this year (2023-24) also, as it is our thrust area. Earlier, the number of such projects was to the tune of 60-70 but now we have drastically increased it. "Out of a total of around 350 mineral exploration ..

Indian Rare-Earths eyes 400% expansion for clean energy transition

State-owned IREL (India) Ltd. aims to mine 50 million tonnes a year of rare-earths bearing ore by end-2032, up from 10 million tonnes now

India, Australia to partner for mineral projects to develop supply chain

Ministers from the two countries have also agreed to deepen cooperation and extend their existing commitments to the India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership

Mines ministry in process of identifying mineral blocks in sea: Secretary

The government is in the process of identifying mineral blocks like nickel in the sea and would gradually put them on sale, mines secretary Vivek Bharadwaj said on Friday. The mines ministry is amending the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 and has sought the stakeholders' views on the same. "Because the critical minerals are becoming even more critical, there is this thought that why are we not mining in the oceans...Unfortunately we have not been able to mine the oceans. Now we are amending the Act. It is in public domain, open for comments for the industry, the stakeholders," the mines secretary said during Metal & Metallurgy Expo-2023 organised by CII. The ministry, he said, is in the process of identifying these blocks in the sea and as there are no stakes in there, the auction will be done by the government of India. "That will also be a huge opportunity for industry, a totally new area of operations," he explained. Critical minerals such as ...

India needs carefully crafted multi-dimensional mineral policy: Eco Survey

The country needs a carefully crafted multi-dimensional mineral policy to address the issues posed by uneven distribution of rare earth elements, the Economic Survey on Tuesday said. Cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements (REEs) are critical for producing electric vehicles and batteries and harnessing solar power and wind energy. "While the demand for critical minerals is set to increase because of the global preference and emphasis towards renewable energy, the global supply chain of the critical minerals is highly concentrated and unevenly distributed. The skewed distribution of the resource poses a supply risk in the face of its enhanced demand. "A carefully crafted multi-dimensional mineral policy would reduce our dependence and address the problems for the future," the Economic Survey 2022-23 said. The country has resources of nickel, cobalt, molybdenum and heavy REEs, but further exploration would be required to evaluate the quantities of their reserves. Th

Of metals and rare earths

There's an obvious need to diversify sources of rare earth minerals but, despite new finds in Sweden, China will remain the go-to supplier for the foreseeable future

Over 20 trucks carrying illegally mined minerals seized in East Singhbhum

The East Singhbhum district administration seized over 20 trucks carrying illegally mined minerals, an official said on Tuesday. Led by Deputy commissioner Vijaya Jadav, the mining task force team comprising Sub-Divisional Officer (Ghatsila) Satyavir Rajak, District Transport Officer (DTO) Dinesh Ranjan and other officials impounded 22 trucks laden with illegally mined sand, stone chips, iron ore on Monday night, the officer said. The district administration collected Rs 8 lakh from the seized mineral laden trucks. Earlier, the officials had conducted such operations in Ghatsila and Dhalbhum sub-divisions and confiscated 94 trucks loaded with illegally mined minerals and being transported without valid documents in last two months and collected Rs 28 lakh fine from them.

Extensive exploration programme to find minerals stepped up in Rajasthan

Additional Chief Secretary (Mines and Petroleum) Subodh Agarwal said each part of the state was rich in some mineral

Rajasthan govt plans e-auctions for mines, minerals to boost production

Mines Minister Pramod Jain Bhaya said the auction of the mining plots increased the revenues of the state government and stopped illegal mining