The Mines Ministry has forged an alliance with the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation to provide expertise in critical minerals.
The MoU was inked in the ‘Critical Minerals Summit: Enhancing Beneficiation and Processing Capabilities’ summit held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. This summit, backed by the Ministry of Mines, aims to encourage cooperation and innovation in the beneficiation and processing of crucial minerals. Secretary of Mines, Shri V L Kantha Rao, presided over the opening ceremony.
In his keynote speech, Shri V L Kantha Rao stressed India’s urgent need to explore and utilise critical minerals to support its rapid economic growth and clean energy goals. He highlighted government initiatives, like mineral block auctions, aimed at speeding up domestic mineral exploration and production.
This partnership involves the Ministry of Mines, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, Council on Energy, Environment and Water, and TERI. Their focus will be on providing expertise in Critical Minerals crucial for India’s economic development, national security, and low-carbon energy transition.
The summit also featured panel discussions on crucial topics such as developing India’s processing and beneficiation capabilities and strategies for scaling up in domestic and global markets. Talks centred around the Ministry’s commitment to infrastructure development for mineral processing research and development, exemplified by initiatives like the Indo-Australian Critical Minerals Research Hub at IIT Hyderabad.
Dr. Veena Kumari D., Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, wrapped up the day by emphasizing the importance of efficient processing technologies amid global policy uncertainties. She highlighted India’s potential as a key player in electric vehicles, energy storage technologies, and other critical sectors, emphasizing the need to nurture a robust domestic supply chain.
The summit, aims to position India as a global hub for critical mineral processing, supporting the nation’s ambitions of becoming self-reliant and globally competitive in the critical minerals arena.
Photo Courtesy: PIB.Gov.in
