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Mines Ministry

Govt to launch critical mineral mission to boost production: Mines minister

Union minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday said the Centre will soon launch the National Critical Mineral Mission (CMM) to enhance domestic production, reduce import dependence, and encourage offshore mining auctions, while urging states to cooperate for sustained mining activities. Reddy made the remark after inaugurating the 3rd National Mining Ministers' Conference in Konark, in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Bihar's deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, Telangana deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu, and other dignitaries and industry leaders. "The mission will soon get Cabinet approval. Union finance minister had announced about it in her budget speech. Import duty on critical mineral has also been made zero," Reddy said. Lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel and rare earth elements are known as critical minerals which are essential for manufacturing defence equipment and key technologies. Stating that India has already made a place in the global platform on critical ...

Govt to launch critical mineral mission to boost production: Mines minister
Updated On : 20 Jan 2025 | 4:42 PM IST

Critical mineral push: Exploration up 53%, but auction hurdles persist

The ministry has also notified 28 private exploration agencies to undertake exploration without requiring prospecting licences

Critical mineral push: Exploration up 53%, but auction hurdles persist
Updated On : 02 Jan 2025 | 12:14 AM IST

Iron ore production rises 3% in Apr-Nov period to 182.6 mn tonnes

The country's iron ore production rose by 3 per cent to 182.6 million tonnes (MT) in the April-November period of the current fiscal. India's iron ore output was 177.2 MT in the year-ago period, according to the provisional data. The mines ministry in a statement said that the country's manganese ore output rose by 9.5 per cent to 2.3 MT in April- November period over 2.1 MT during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Production of chromite rose to 2 MT over 1.8 MT in the year-ago period. The production of bauxite also rose by 8.9 per cent to 15.9 MT in April- November period over 14.6 MT in the corresponding month of the previous fiscal. "In the non-ferrous metal sector, primary aluminium production in FY 2024-25 (April-November) posted a growth of 1.1 per cent over the corresponding period last year, increasing to 27.91 lakh tonnes (LT) in FY 2024-25 (April-November) from 27.60 LT in FY 2023-24 (April-November)," the mines ministry said. India is the second-larg

Iron ore production rises 3% in Apr-Nov period to 182.6 mn tonnes
Updated On : 01 Jan 2025 | 9:49 PM IST

Auction of 11 critical mineral blocks called off over poor response

According to the Ministry of Mines, no bids were received for four blocks, while the remaining seven blocks attracted fewer than three technically qualified bidders

Auction of 11 critical mineral blocks called off over poor response
Updated On : 30 Dec 2024 | 12:15 AM IST

Offshore mineral auction: Polymetallic nodule resource gaps pose challenges

Construction sand is a crucial component for infrastructure development, used in making concrete, mortar, and other building materials

Offshore mineral auction: Polymetallic nodule resource gaps pose challenges
Updated On : 27 Dec 2024 | 11:44 PM IST

First offshore mineral auction kicks off tomorrow; 13 blocks up for bidding

In August 2023, Parliament amended the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, instituting an auction-based approach for allocating mineral blocks in offshore areas

First offshore mineral auction kicks off tomorrow; 13 blocks up for bidding
Updated On : 27 Nov 2024 | 10:53 PM IST

Govt completes auction of 24 critical, strategic mineral blocks in 4 rounds

The government on Wednesday said that 24 critical and strategic mineral blocks have been sold in four rounds of auction. "Out of 48 blocks put to e-auction, 24 have been successfully auctioned, including four mining lease (ML) and 20 composite license (CL) blocks," the mines ministry said in a statement. The centre has so far completed four tranches of e-auction, it said, adding that a total of 10 blocks have been auctioned in the fourth round. According to the statement, the mines ministry has completed the e-auction of another two mineral blocks under tranche IV. "This is in addition to the announcement on November 7, 2024, regarding the preferred bidders for eight mineral blocks under tranche IV of e-auction by central government, bringing the total number of successful blocks in Tranche IV to ten," it said. In the latest auction, Satguru Mining Pvt Ltd won the bid for Ponchi graphite block in Jharkhand, while Assam Mineral Development Corp Ltd emerged as the preferred bidder f

Govt completes auction of 24 critical, strategic mineral blocks in 4 rounds
Updated On : 27 Nov 2024 | 10:20 PM IST

Govt to launch 1st round of auction of minerals in offshore areas on Nov 28

The government will on Thursday launch the first round of sale of mineral blocks in offshore areas with 13 mines across the Arabian Sea and Andaman Sea set to be auctioned. These mineral blocks consist of a mix of construction sand, lime mud, and polymetallic nodules. These minerals are critical for infrastructure development, high-tech manufacturing and green energy transition. "The Ministry of Mines will be launching the first-ever tranche of auction of mineral blocks in offshore areas of India on 28th November 2024," an official statement said. The move assumes significance as it will lead to foray into the exploration and development of undersea mineral resources within its offshore area. Offshore areas include territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, and other maritime zones of the country. With the global shift towards technologies reliant on high-demand minerals, such as cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and polymetallic nodules, India must develop

Govt to launch 1st round of auction of minerals in offshore areas on Nov 28
Updated On : 27 Nov 2024 | 2:44 PM IST

Mines ministry, IEA sign pact for cooperation in critical mineral sector

The mines ministry on Wednesday entered into a pact with the International Energy Agency (IEA) for cooperation in the area of critical minerals. The Cabinet had earlier this month approved the proposal of signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between IEA and the mines ministry. The present association would provide India with access to reliable data, analysis, and policy recommendations in the critical mineral sector. The IEA is an international organisation within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). "This collaboration would enable India to streamline its policies, regulations, and investment strategies in the critical mineral sector, aligning them with global standards and best practices," the mines ministry said in a statement. The agreement would also promote capacity building and knowledge exchange between India and the IEA member states, it said, adding that the collaboration on data collection, modelling, and analysis

Mines ministry, IEA sign pact for cooperation in critical mineral sector
Updated On : 13 Nov 2024 | 6:54 PM IST

Govt held several roadshows for stake sale in Hindustan Zinc: Mines secy

The government has conducted several roadshows in the last 15 days in financial capitals like Mumbai, London, Boston and New York to assess the market and meet investors for sale of its stake in Vedanta Group firm Hindustan Zinc Ltd. The government, which owns 29.5 per cent in the company, is the largest minority shareholder in Hindustan Zinc. "The roadshow is about the disinvestment process. So, the government is committed to disinvestment of some of its stake in Hindustan Zinc Ltd and in that to assess the market and meet investors and all that several roadshows have happened in the last fifteen days. "They have happened in Bombay, Singapore, Hongkong, London, Boston, New York. So in all the majors financial capitals the roadshows have happened," Mines Secretary V L Kantha Rao said on the sidelines of a training-cum-workshop on the UNESCO Global Geoparks and Geoparks in India. The government had earlier said that it is committed to offloading its stake in Hindustan Zinc through

Govt held several roadshows for stake sale in Hindustan Zinc: Mines secy
Updated On : 23 Sep 2024 | 2:15 PM IST

Centre to offer financial support to boost critical minerals sector growth

The focus of this initiative is to help find ways to develop extraction technology and better methods of beneficiation

Centre to offer financial support to boost critical minerals sector growth
Updated On : 14 Aug 2024 | 1:58 PM IST

Govt offers 50% refund to licence holders for critical mineral exploration

The scheme allows optional participation for EL holders granted licences through auction after the scheme's introduction

Govt offers 50% refund to licence holders for critical mineral exploration
Updated On : 27 Jun 2024 | 11:43 PM IST

Mining majors give a miss to country's maiden critical minerals auction

This is not the first time the Centre has cancelled an auction due to limited interest from bidders; in the first tranche, the ministry had to cancel 14 of the 20 blocks put up for auctioning

Mining majors give a miss to country's maiden critical minerals auction
Updated On : 24 Jun 2024 | 10:57 PM IST

Maiden critical minerals block results likely to be announced on Monday

More than two dozen blocks will also be put on the bidding block in fourth blocks

Maiden critical minerals block results likely to be announced on Monday
Updated On : 21 Jun 2024 | 8:31 PM IST

Coal India, NMDC, ONGC to scout for critical mineral assets abroad

A Mines Ministry delegation is scheduled for Zambia in June. India is exploring joint exploration with Zambia for critical minerals, including lithium. A separate delegation will head to Congo

Coal India, NMDC, ONGC to scout for critical mineral assets abroad
Updated On : 15 May 2024 | 7:43 PM IST

Mines ministry asks Coal India, NMDC to look for lithium mines overseas

Ministry will lead a delegation to Zambia in June and later to Congo to explore joint ventures in critical minerals

Mines ministry asks Coal India, NMDC to look for lithium mines overseas
Updated On : 15 May 2024 | 3:08 PM IST

India to become leader in offshore mining as govt amends legislation

India will become the leader in offshore mining as not many countries have done much in this area, a government official said on Tuesday. Offshore mining is the process of retrieving mineral deposits from the deep seabed, at a depth of more than 200 metres. Speaking at the Critical Minerals Summit here, Joint Secretary in Ministry of Mines, Veena Kumari D said the government has amended the offshore mining legislation. "We have done amendment to the Act for offshore mining and we are working on the rules for that and India will be the leader in offshore mining because not many countries have done much of offshore mining and we were working on it since August 2023," she added. Mines Secretary V L Kantha Rao in his address on Monday had said that the auction of offshore mines will begin in three months' time. The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 has been amended to provide an auction route for awarding production leases for offshore minerals. "Currentl

India to become leader in offshore mining as govt amends legislation
Updated On : 30 Apr 2024 | 8:19 PM IST
Updated On : 29 Apr 2024 | 11:08 PM IST

Rajasthan's mines department plans to increase revenue during FY25

To implement the strategy, Mines Secretary Anandi recently met the director, Bhagwati Prasad Kalal, and all field officers of the mines and geology department virtually

Rajasthan's mines department plans to increase revenue during FY25
Updated On : 15 Apr 2024 | 4:37 PM IST

Mine bidders to face penalties for delays; Centre proposes timelines

The government has outlined timelines for various activities involved in the process, accompanied by penalties for delays attributable to the bidder

Mine bidders to face penalties for delays; Centre proposes timelines
Updated On : 12 Feb 2024 | 11:58 PM IST