Parliament passes Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill 2025 to boost critical mineral production

 

Parliament  passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, aimed at promoting sustainable mining, zero-waste practices, and advancing the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission. 

 

 

Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, said the government is committed to transparency in the mining sector, with production enhanced through the use of modern technology.

Under the National Critical Mineral Mission, the government has identified 24 critical minerals and is promoting domestic production through onshore and offshore exploration. The first auction of offshore mineral blocks, including polymetallic nodules in the Andaman Sea, was launched in November 2024. India is also exploring critical minerals abroad, signing agreements with countries like Argentina and Zambia to facilitate resource development.

 The bill empowers the government to facilitate mineral trading through exchanges, allow the sale of mineral dumps to reduce environmental hazards, and promote extraction of deep-seated minerals.

The legislation also expands the scope of the National Mineral Exploration Trust, renaming it as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust, and increases the royalty contribution from two to three per cent. It provides mechanisms to include new minerals in existing leases and incentivises the production of critical and strategic minerals.

Officials highlighted the significance of these reforms amid global supply chain challenges for critical minerals, with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Mines actively engaging in bilateral and multilateral cooperation to secure stable supplies.

Agreements have been signed with countries including Australia, Argentina, Zambia, Peru, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as international organisations such as the International Energy Agency.

Customs Duty Exemption on Lithium & other rare minerals to Boost EV Sector Growth in India

 

The proposed exemption in customs duty on import of lithium, cobalt and other rare minerals in the Union Budget 2024-25 is likely to lower the battery production cost and help in making electric vehicles more affordable for the buyers.

 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget for 2024-25 proposed to fully exempt customs duties on 25 critical minerals and reduce Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on two of them.

This will provide a major fillip to the processing and refining of such minerals and help secure their availability for these strategic and important sectors, she noted. Minerals such as Lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements are critical for sectors like nuclear energy, renewable energy, space, defense, telecommunications, and high-tech electronics, Sitharaman stated.

Exemption of customs duty on import of lithium, cobalt and other rare minerals and extension of concessional customs duty on Li-Ion cells till March 2026 and withdrawal of equalization levy of 2 per cent on e-transactions is expected to propel the growth of the Indian auto industry. .

The move is likely to encourage few players to indigenise battery production in India.The industry was not expecting a lot but was definitely looking for some announcements with respect to FAME III subsidies, and other direct benefits for BEV/ NEV (New Electric Vehicle). One  have to wait to see if there are any further relaxations in the future by the FM or by the GST Council.

The strategic move will significantly impact India's EV market by lowering production costs and enhancing competitiveness.

JSW likely to invest ₹40,000 cr to set up EV, Battery manufacturing & recycling facilities in Odisha

 

The JSW group, on on 10th Feb, 2024 , announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up an integrated electric vehicles (EV) and EV battery manufacturing project at Cuttack and Paradip via a ₹40,000 crore (approx $5B) investment.

The company plans to invest ₹25,000 crore in Cuttack for the electric vehicle and its battery manufacturing complex, while ₹15,000 crore will be invested in the EV components manufacturing complex in Paradip.

“By integrating our operations within Odisha's vibrant ecosystem, we aim to create a symbiotic relationship that benefits all stakeholders, fostering growth and innovation, and generating numerous high-skilled job opportunities. It's a testament to our belief in Odisha's potential and our dedication to contributing positively to its economic landscape," said Sajjan Jindal, chairman of JSW Group.

The project consists of a 50 GWH EV battery plant for both mobility & energy storage systems, commercial e-vehicles and passenger electric cars, auto components like e-powertrain, lithium refinery, copper smelter and related component manufacturing units.

 

The company will also set up an original equipment manufacturer plant for electric vehicles and components in the same integrated complex. This according to the company will be the world’s largest single-location project in the sector &  it is proposing to create 11,000 jobs from the project — 4,000 in Cuttack and 7,000 in Paradip.

 

This partnership, the company believes, not only underscores the state’s attractive investment climate but also the government’s strategic initiatives to position Odisha at the forefront of India's EV and green technology sectors. The state government of Odisha will support the initiative through a special package of incentives.

“We are keenly focused on leveraging the opportunities presented by the new age sectors, aiming to create high-skill job opportunities for the people of Odisha. Through our collaboration with the JSW Group, we are setting the stage for a future where innovation drives our industrial growth, ensuring that the youth of Odisha have access to the skills and jobs that will define the next generation of economic development," said Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha, on the occasion.

 

Reproduced from  Livemint 

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India acquires Lithium mining blocks in Argentina

 

India on 15^th Jan 2024, announced the acquisition of five lithium blocks in Argentina.The Mines Ministry, through Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), signed an agreement with Argentina’s State-owned CAMYEN. 

The State-owned KABIL will start exploration and development of five lithium brine blocks, namely Cortadera-I, Cortadera-VII, Cortadera-VIII, Cateo-2022-01810132, and Cortadera-VI, covering an area of about 15,703 hectares. 

With this agreement, KABIL has obtained Exploration and Exclusivity Rights for five blocks. The agreement will allow the State-owned entity to evaluate, prospect, and explore. Upon subsequent discovery of lithium minerals, exploitation rights for commercial production have also been granted. 

Its known Brine technology  has cost advantage over minerals. Things will  be further cost effective if DLE   deployed  instead  of age old  evaporation technology.

India’s lithium requirements, amounting to around ₹24,000 crore (~ $3B), are met through imports, with the majority of supplies coming from China.

Lithium, often called ‘white gold’, forms the cornerstone of the country’s transition to green energy options. It is used across various categories, including energy storage solutions, batteries for mobile phones, and in EVs. 

India's also in  preliminary discussions with Bolivia to acquire lithium assets.