Critical minerals — lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earths — concentrate in a handful of countries, posing fresh resource-geography challenges. Examine the global distribution and India’s response under the Critical Minerals Mission.

Introduction:

The energy transition runs on critical minerals — lithium for batteries, cobalt and nickel for cathodes, rare earths for magnets. Reserve concentration is extreme: Chile and Australia hold over half of lithium reserves, the Democratic Republic of Congo produces 70% of world cobalt, and China refines about 80% of rare earths. This concentration is reshaping resource geography.

Global geography: The Lithium Triangle (Chile, Argentina, Bolivia) holds the bulk of brine reserves; Australia's Greenbushes is the world's largest spodumene lithium mine. DRC's Katanga copperbelt dominates cobalt; Indonesia's Sulawesi nickel-laterite belt now feeds the Morowali Industrial Park. China's Bayan Obo in Inner Mongolia is the world's largest rare-earth deposit, processed through a refining monopoly built over four decades.

India's discoveries and gaps: The Geological Survey of India announced a 5.9 million tonne inferred lithium resource at Salal-Haimana, Reasi (J&K) in February 2023; the Mandya block in Karnataka adds a smaller prospect. India still imports 100% of its lithium, cobalt and nickel for batteries and over 70% of rare-earth magnets, mostly from China.

Policy response: The Critical Minerals List (30 minerals, June 2023), the MMDR Amendment Act 2023 (private auctions of 24 critical minerals), KABIL's overseas blocks (Argentina's Catamarca, 2024), India's June 2023 entry into the Mineral Security Partnership, and the National Critical Minerals Mission (Rs 16,300 crore, January 2025) form the response.

Conclusion:

Diversify supply, build refining capacity and recycle e-waste — concentration of resource means concentration of power.