Coming soon: A monster reserve to house critical minerals for rainy days
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.India is planning to build a six-month strategic reserve of critical minerals to shield its green energy and manufacturing sectors from supply shocks and price swings, two people aware of the matter said. The Union ministries of mines and heavy industries are working on a plan to stockpile imported and locally sourced critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earth elements, a segment dominated by China.The strategic reserve will act as a long-term safeguard for sectors such as electric mobility, energy storage and electronics manufacturing, which are increasingly dependent on imports, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity.
Critical minerals go into batteries, renewable energy systems and advanced electronics, making them indispensable in the global energy transition.“The plan for a six-month buffer is under consideration, and initial discussions with the industry have begun on its necessity and structure. It will require a mix of domestic sourcing and overseas procurement,” said one of the two people cited above, requesting anonymity.“India’s consideration to build strategic critical mineral reserves comes from growing concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities and price volatility in global mineral markets,” said the second person, also on condition of anonymity.Just a year ago, Beijing halted exports of rare-earth magnets after a tariff tussle with the US, sending shockwaves across the globe.
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