Latest news with #KABIL
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Best of BS Opinion: India is faced with a strategic turning point
There's a moment in every fight, every conflict, every country's economic strategy, where the shield cracks. The noise outside gets louder, the sand underfoot more uncertain. It's not just a question of survival anymore. It's what you do next. You lunge, adapt, recalibrate or you're trampled. The same test of resolve applies now across India's economic, strategic and scientific frontiers, where shields once considered strong are showing signs of stress. Like gladiators, the dent in the armour is visible and now we must choose when and where to strike. Let's dive in. China has just driven a spike into India's rare earth supply shield. With new export controls on vital metals and magnets, India's green and defence ambitions are exposed. Japan faced this once and countered swiftly with strategic deals and stockpiles. India, though, is only starting to build its moat, through ventures like KABIL and domestic processing, notes our first editorial. But these are still early moves. Without stronger regional alliances and a clear long-term plan, Indian manufacturing could be caught off guard. In space, however, India's aim is high and its resolve stronger. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is poised to soar aboard SpaceX's Falcon rocket under the Axiom-4 mission. Supported by Isro, this journey to the International Space Station will test the limits of India's readiness for manned missions, highlights our second editorial. It's a proving ground for Gaganyaan, and perhaps even future space habitats. What Shukla brings back, in terms of data, insight, and instinct, could patch the cracks before the next big lift-off. Back on Earth, the fiscal shield is looking thin again. A K Bhattacharya writes that revenue overestimation is back after a four-year break. Personal income-tax collections have missed by Rs 74,000 crore. Spending has been reined in. And while capital expenditure was protected, the crack in the armour, 6.5 per cent GDP growth, down from 9.2 per cent, can't be missed. Deep Kapuria flags another chink: the QCO regime meant to upgrade product quality is under strain. With only 769 out of 23,000 BIS standards enforced, and trade partners grumbling, India's quality crusade is caught between ambition and implementation. The solution? Less brute force, more finesse: decentralised certification, smarter MRAs, and a phased, strategic charge, not a wild swing. And when it comes to the marketing colosseum, Siddhesh Joglekar reviews Marketing Mixology: Four Essential Ingredients for Marketing Success by Ambi Parameswaran — a swift, jargon-free training manual for modern brand warriors. Less textbook, more battle guide. Whether you're a fresh grad or a founder, the book is a well-timed reminder that even when the battlefield shifts, the fundamentals of storytelling, empathy, and timing stay firm.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Indian state firms seek stake in SQM's lithium projects in Australia, sources say
By Neha Arora NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Four Indian state firms are in talks with Chilean miner SQM to acquire a 20% stake in its two lithium projects in Australia for $600 million, four sources said, in New Delhi's biggest effort to secure supplies of the key EV battery metal. Government-backed Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) has partnered with Coal India, Oil India, and ONGC Videsh to seek the 20% stake in SQM's Mount Holland and Andover lithium projects in Western Australia, the sources said. The sources did not wish to be named as the deliberations were not public. SQM is the world's second-largest lithium producer. India, the world's fastest-growing major economy, has intensified efforts to secure a steady supply of lithium, anticipating a surge in demand for the EV battery metal, which is critical to reducing carbon emissions from the world's third-largest emitter. "This is so far India's biggest attempt to secure lithium supplies overseas," one of the sources said. "The due diligence is on, and the companies have expressed their interest with an initial offer." KABIL, along with the three state companies, is in the process of appointing a mergers and acquisitions adviser for the deal, the sources said. SQM, KABIL, Coal India, Oil India, and ONGC Videsh did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. India's plans to acquire stakes in SQM's projects have not been reported previously. New Delhi formed KABIL - a joint venture between the state-owned National Aluminium Company, Hindustan Copper, and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy - a few years ago to acquire, develop, and process strategic minerals overseas for use in India. India has recently stepped up efforts to secure overseas agreements for accessing critical minerals in resource-rich nations like Argentina, Australia, and Chile. New Delhi is also exploring an initial agreement with cobalt-rich Congo. Last year, KABIL signed an exploration and development agreement with a state-owned firm in Argentina for the exploration and mining of five lithium blocks. Amid growing energy needs, India is trying to encourage EV production to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. EV sales in India accounted for just 2.5% of the 4.3 million cars sold in 2024, but their 20% growth rate outpaced the overall car market's 5% growth. Analysts expect sales to double in 2025 from 100,000 units in the previous year, mainly due to new launches.
Reuters
28-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Exclusive: Indian state firms seek stake in SQM's lithium projects in Australia, sources say
NEW DELHI, March 28 (Reuters) - Four Indian state firms are in talks with Chilean miner SQM ( opens new tab to acquire a 20% stake in its two lithium projects in Australia for $600 million, four sources said, in New Delhi's biggest effort to secure supplies of the key EV battery metal. Government-backed Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) has partnered with Coal India ( opens new tab, Oil India ( opens new tab, and ONGC Videsh ( opens new tab to seek the 20% stake in SQM's Mount Holland and Andover lithium projects in Western Australia, the sources said. The sources did not wish to be named as the deliberations were not public. SQM is the world's second-largest lithium producer. India, the world's fastest-growing major economy, has intensified efforts to secure a steady supply of lithium, anticipating a surge in demand for the EV battery metal, which is critical to reducing carbon emissions from the world's third-largest emitter. "This is so far India's biggest attempt to secure lithium supplies overseas," one of the sources said. "The due diligence is on, and the companies have expressed their interest with an initial offer." KABIL, along with the three state companies, is in the process of appointing a mergers and acquisitions adviser for the deal, the sources said. SQM, KABIL, Coal India, Oil India, and ONGC Videsh did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. India's plans to acquire stakes in SQM's projects have not been reported previously. New Delhi formed KABIL - a joint venture between the state-owned National Aluminium Company, Hindustan Copper, and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy - a few years ago to acquire, develop, and process strategic minerals overseas for use in India. India has recently stepped up efforts to secure overseas agreements for accessing critical minerals in resource-rich nations like Argentina, Australia, and Chile. New Delhi is also exploring an initial agreement with cobalt-rich Congo. Last year, KABIL signed an exploration and development agreement with a state-owned firm in Argentina for the exploration and mining of five lithium blocks. Amid growing energy needs, India is trying to encourage EV production to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. EV sales in India accounted for just 2.5% of the 4.3 million cars sold in 2024, but their 20% growth rate outpaced the overall car market's 5% growth. Analysts expect sales to double in 2025 from 100,000 units in the previous year, mainly due to new launches.
Russia Today
27-02-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
India scouting for critical minerals in Africa and Australia
India is searching for mining opportunities to access critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and copper from Zambia, Congo, and Australia, Indian Mines Secretary V.L. Kantha Rao said on Thursday. The official told reporters that governments in these countries are working with a consortium of Indian state enterprises (KABIL). 'Through our missions, we are working on trying to get critical mineral assets for exploration and mining,' he said. Critical minerals are crucial for the production of technologies such as smartphones and electric vehicles. They include cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, and rare-earth metals. The Zambian government recently agreed to give India an area of 9,000 square km to carry out exploration of cobalt and copper, Rao stated. He pointed out that the exploration process is expected to take two to three years, and that the government hopes to obtain the mining rights thereafter. As the world increasingly shifts to cleaner and sustainable energy, lithium demand is on the rise, according to industry watchers. In this context, New Delhi is trying to reduce reliance on imports, especially from China, which currently dominates the lithium processing technology sector. In January, the Indian government approved the $1.9 billion National Critical Mineral Mission, a framework for the country's self-reliance in the sector. Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy noted that lithium blocks are in high demand, and the Geological Survey of India has identified several lithium blocks in the northern states of Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh. He stated that clarity on the exploration of the blocks is expected to be achieved by the end of April or May, and subsequently, the blocks will be put up for auction. India is on the hunt for critical minerals partly due to a lack of sufficient availability domestically. In December 2024, the Indian government called off an auction of 11 critical mineral mining sites due to a lack of interest, PTI news agency reported. The global lithium supply is currently dominated by Australia and the 'Lithium Triangle,' which comprises Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. Together, these countries hold more than 75% of the world's lithium reserves, with the majority of this supply being shipped to China for processing.
Reuters
29-01-2025
- Business
- Reuters
India seeking energy, lithium investments in Argentina
BUENOS AIRES, Jan 29 (Reuters) - India is looking to expand its investments in Argentina's mining, gas and oil sectors, with a focus on lithium, to secure resources needed for its energy transition, the country's mining secretary told Reuters. Secretary V.L. Kantha Rao visited Buenos Aires for the first in-person meeting with Argentine counterparts since the two countries tied up a preliminary agreement in 2022 on mineral exploration, critical minerals supply and technology development. Indian state firms Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) and Coal India ( opens new tab, along with private company Greenko, are already exploring lithium in Argentina's northwest province of Catamarca, on the border with Chile. "We hope that in the next six months there will be a new announcement," Rao told Reuters at an event at the Indian embassy in Argentina on Tuesday, where he added that there is interest in other nearby provinces such as Salta. India, a major greenhouse gas emitter, is securing key minerals in resource-rich nations like Australia, Argentina, and Chile. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has identified 30 critical minerals, including lithium, for its clean energy push. "India has a very ambitious plan to transition many vehicles to electric. We aim to convert 30% of our vehicles by 2030," India's ambassador to Argentina, Dinesh Bhatia, told Reuters. Indian officials, who will visit Catamarca and meet Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo, touted potential benefits from the Latin American nation's so-called Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI), which offers tax benefits for investments over $200 million. "We want a stable (framework), not one that changes every five years," Rao told reporters. "Right now, policies are investment-friendly, and companies are coming." Argentina, the world's fourth-largest lithium exporter, is part of the "lithium triangle" with Chile and Bolivia. President Javier Milei is pushing deregulation to attract investment and ease a prolonged economic crisis. India is also eyeing investments in Argentina's copper, gold, gas and oil resources. Last week, Argentina's state-controlled oil firm YPF ( opens new tab signed a memorandum of understanding with three Indian companies for potential liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
