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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
From battery waste to energy independence: India's critical minerals opportunity
India's fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage sectors offer a tremendous opportunity: transforming battery waste into a strategic resource to reduce dependence on imported critical minerals. Despite having a vast domestic market, India still heavily relies on imports—especially from China—for key battery materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. As demand for these metals surges toward 2030, India stands at a crucial crossroads to build a robust recycling ecosystem aligned with the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), positioning itself for long-term energy security and sovereignty. Critical minerals are essential to modern technologies—from EVs and smartphones to renewable energy and defence systems. But with global supply chains heavily dominated by China, India faces significant geopolitical risks. China's control over mineral processing and its tightening export regulations have exposed vulnerabilities in India's energy transition roadmap. In response, India has adopted a comprehensive strategy covering 30 critical minerals: boosting domestic exploration, acquiring overseas resources, and ramping up recycling infrastructure. Backed by a ₹34,300 crore investment, the NCMM seeks to strengthen local supply chains, foster research and development (R&D), and establish strategic reserves both domestically and internationally. Although India has large mineral reserves, only a fraction has been explored. This untapped potential offers a compelling opportunity for global partnerships and investments. India possesses reserves of critical minerals such as copper and potentially cobalt, and unlocking these in an efficient, sustainable manner could bolster the global supply chain. To ensure recycled materials play a pivotal role, India has introduced policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR) 2022. These mandates require producers to meet escalating annual recycling targets for lithium-ion batteries, thereby reintegrating recovered metals into the production cycle. India is witnessing a gradual shift from informal to formal battery recycling. According to BDO India, domestic recyclers could supply up to 48% of the country's lithium-ion battery demand by 2030. This transition is powered by growing private investments and policy incentives, including tax exemptions on critical mineral imports and urban mining initiatives announced in the 2025 Union Budget. End-of-life batteries are a rich source of lithium, cobalt, and nickel—metals that are becoming increasingly scarce. Tapping into this resource pool is essential to narrowing the supply-demand gap and achieving energy transition targets. As global demand for critical minerals is expected to hit $80 billion by 2040 (IEA), countries worldwide—including Japan, Canada, Australia, and EU members—are actively building resilient supply chains. India's global alliances, such as the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) and its partnership with Australia on critical minerals research (IACMRP), underscore the importance of international collaboration. Interestingly, several minerals—like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and vanadium—are listed as critical by multiple major economies, reinforcing the need for collective recycling strategies and global coordination. Despite promising initiatives, India faces several execution hurdles: India's strategy includes short-, mid-, and long-term goals: Recycling battery waste could save India billions in imports, create substantial employment in urban mining, and cement its status as the recycling hub of the Global South. Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) such as KABIL, ONGC Videsh, and Coal India are playing a critical role in acquiring overseas assets, while the NCMM's funding drives domestic integration. However, India's funding still lags global benchmarks. The European Union (EU) has proposed a €10 billion fund, and the US has allocated $400 billion through the Inflation Reduction Act. Scaling India's commitment over time will be essential to strengthening recycling infrastructure, driving R&D in hydrometallurgy, and integrating informal workers through IoT-linked systems. To unlock the full potential of battery recycling, India must overcome regulatory, technological, and financial hurdles while accelerating domestic capability building. A phased strategy—driven by AI, supported by global alliances, and backed by policy—can convert India's battery waste burden into an economic and strategic asset. With the right blend of vision, partnerships, and innovation, India can turn its critical minerals challenge into a sustainable competitive advantage—ensuring energy sovereignty and a resilient green-tech future. This article is authored by Chetan Jain, senior vice president – business operations, LOHUM.
Mint
13-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Centre plans strict timelines, penalties for miners to ensure critical mineral security
India plans to introduce strict timelines and penalties for winners of critical mineral blocks as the government seeks to fast-track the production of elements essential for the country's transition to clean technology. The draft Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2025 includes provisions to levy penalties as a percentage of the performance guarantee–paid by successful bidders to the government–for delaying the exploration activity beyond four months after getting the contract. The aim is to accelerate production from mineral blocks to fully meet the domestic demand, especially for critical and heavy earth elements such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, silicon, copper, which are essential for solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles and energy storage systems. India depends on the import of most critical minerals. According to data from the commerce ministry, in FY23 India imported 32,300 tonnes of four critical minerals: lithium, copper ores and concentrates, cobalt and nickel worth ₹6,550 crore. Of these, the country is import dependent for 93% for copper ores and concentrates and 100% for the other three. 'Introducing timelines is a step towards ensuring that mineral resources are brought to production in a timely manner. The rationale of such moves is to prevent locking up of mineral resources, which otherwise lie in the earth and are not being put to economic use," said Rajnish Gupta, partner, tax and economic policy group at EY India. Also read | With no new US tariffs on critical minerals, India's race for them will only heat up 'Having said that, timeframes for development of a lease, even if there are no financial constraints, get impacted by location-specific factors such as environmental issues, evacuation and logistics infrastructure, etc," said Gupta. 'So timelines for development would vary by location and it is important that these are taken into consideration." Resources for critical and heavy earth minerals have been put up for exploration and mining for the first time after amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 last year. India has already launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to ensure their long-term availability and processing. To get projects going quickly at address the shortage of these critical minerals in the country, it plans to introduce strict timelines. Penalties for delays According to the provisions added to the draft Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2025, a mining lease winner will get four months from the date of issuing the letter of intent (LoI) to submit a mining plan for approval. In case of any delay beyond this period, the miner would face a penalty equivalent to 5% of the performance guarantee security to be appropriated. After six months, 2% will be deducted for every month of delay. This would be treated as milestone 1 in the mining activity. The performance security, a percentage of the value of estimated resources in a mineral block, is paid by a successful bidder to state governments. Read this | Why India wants critical minerals in its trade deal with US The ministry of mines has sought stakeholder comments on the draft rules by month-end. These draft amendments are based on the recommendation of a committee constituted by the ministry. The panel included representatives from the ministries of mines and environment, forest and climate change, besides the state governments of Odisha, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and the Indian Bureau of Mines. Environmental nod timelines The draft rules also provide a separate timeline for securing environment clearance for projects and executing mining leases. A similar plan is being considered for holders of composite mineral leases, which were awarded for the first time last year after amending the mining act. According to the draft rules, a delay of over 18 months from the completion of milestone 1 for securing environmental clearance would attract 5% deduction of performance security, and 2% per month after the dela extends beyond 22 months. This would second milestone. A delay of 11 months but less than 14 months from milestone 2 would again attract a deduction of 5 % performance security; beyond 14 months, 2% will be charged for each month of delay. Milestone 3 would require miners to complete land acquisition and get permission to draw water and power as part of executing the mineral lease. Also read | Centre weighs grand plan for critical mineral show Similar timelines have been provided for awardees of composite licence–being issued for the first time in the country–and will involve both prospecting of resources and mining. The proposed regulations, however, have divided the timelines for a composite licence into six milestones spread over 81 months (6 years and 9 months). The draft has also proposed that in cases where the preferred bidder or successful bidder is clearly identified for delays at various stages of mining, the state government would appropriate the performance security as provided in the regulations. The successful bidder would be required to top up performance security within two months of such appropriation. New rules on auctions will help open mines and enhance production, given the increase in demand from end-use sectors, especially in critical minerals, said Rajib Maitra, partner at Deloitte India. 'This will incentivize mining activities in the country." And read | National Critical Mineral Mission, higher ethanol procurement price get cabinet nod
Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
India, Australia Strengthen Critical Minerals Partnership to Tackle Global Supply Chain Risks
India and Australia are expanding their partnership in critical minerals as part of a strategic response to mounting global supply chain challenges and the shift toward clean energy. With rising geopolitical tensions and unilateral trade barriers, both countries are deepening cooperation to secure access to essential raw materials vital for the production of renewable energy technologies. 'As the world navigates an increasingly fragmented trade landscape marked by unilateral tariff impositions and shifting geopolitical alliances, the case for international cooperation has never been stronger,' said Anindita Sinh, research analyst at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) and lead author of the report that underpins this analysis. 'The strategic alignment between India and Australia in the critical minerals space not only addresses immediate supply chain vulnerabilities but also sets the stage for long-term economic resilience and technological innovation.' In 2023–24, India's imports from Australia included $11.02 billion (US$7.11 billion) worth of mineral fuels, oils, and related products—underscoring the central role of minerals in bilateral trade. Australia's status as a top global supplier complements India's rising demand for critical minerals to fuel its clean energy transition and industrial expansion. Related Stories 4/30/2025 5/1/2025 Geopolitical developments have made this collaboration more beneficial. The United States, for example, has imposed a 27 percent tariff on Indian exports such as smartphones and solar photovoltaic modules. However, critical minerals remain exempt, highlighting their strategic importance. India and Australia are using this momentum to bolster supply chain security and reduce dependence on dominant suppliers like China. India has rolled out key policy initiatives, including the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, and auctions for strategic mineral blocks. Australia, with its advanced mining infrastructure and rich reserves, is well-positioned to support India's resource needs. 'India's partnership with Australia in this sector is the most advanced and well-established,' Sinh said. 'With tangible developments such as off-take agreements from Australian lithium mines and joint research hubs like the India-Australia Critical Minerals Research Hub, the partnership is at a defining moment—poised to contribute significantly to global supply chain resilience and clean energy ambitions.' Beyond trade, the two countries are collaborating through joint research initiatives, technology transfer, and academic partnerships, such as the Titanium-Vanadium Processing Project. These ventures aim to foster innovation and ensure sustainable resource development. Key Areas to Boost Cooperation According to the CSEP report, several key areas must be prioritised to strengthen this cooperation further. First, India's NCMM should be more closely aligned with Australia's export strategy to ensure long-term supply security. This would support India's net-zero goals and industrial decarbonisation by matching its manufacturing and clean energy ambitions with Australia's abundant mineral resources. Expanding co-investment in mining and processing is also crucial. Encouraging Australian firms to partner with Indian stakeholders in mining and refining projects—particularly under India's PLI schemes and strategic mineral auctions—could mobilise both public and private investment. Australia's mature mining sector offers an advantage that can be further leveraged with appropriate incentives. Enhancing technology transfer was further identified as necessary for long-term innovation. Promoting joint development of battery-grade materials and value-added products through collaborations between research institutions and industry actors in both countries would accelerate capacity-building. The Critical Minerals Research Hub can play a central role in this, while intellectual property concerns may be addressed through mechanisms like the 2020 MoU between India and Australia. Finally, academic and industry collaboration should be deepened. Expanding research partnerships and training programs would help develop a skilled workforce in mineral processing and foster innovation in sustainable mining technologies. Universities and industry stakeholders can play a larger role by focusing research on forward-looking technologies. Structures such as the India-Australia Critical Minerals Research Partnership, which supports joint R&D projects, provide a useful model. By focusing on these strategic areas, India and Australia have the opportunity to reinforce their positions within the evolving global critical minerals supply chain—an area increasingly tied to national security and economic competitiveness.
Telegraph
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Cambridge under pressure to return Benin Bronzes as Nigeria promises museum display
Cambridge University is under pressure to return the Benin Bronzes it promised to Nigeria three years ago after Nigerian authorities said they would not disappear into the collection of a king. The university has been assured that the treasures will be placed in a museum. In 2022, Cambridge museums pledged to return a collection of 116 artefacts taken by British forces from the Kingdom of Benin, now part of Nigeria, in 1897. Muhammadu Buhari, then the president of Nigeria, decreed that they would go to the Oba of Benin. The oba is the historic leader of the Benin ethnic group, which initially created the bronzes, and his people believe him to have ancestral rights to them. This prompted concerns that the ruler might keep them in his private collection, and in 2023 Cambridge paused the planned return. Now Nigerian officials have pushed for their urgent return after promising that the treasures would be placed in a museum. It comes after the Netherlands pledged to return 119 Benin artefacts, comprising 113 bronzes that are part of the Dutch state collection, and the remainder from the municipality of Rotterdam. Olugbile Holloway, the director of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), said: 'The oba has given the NCMM the blessing to display, conserve and to pursue reparation of these objects. So, there is no more ambiguity. 'The return of these objects is not just about displaying them in the museum or taking care of them. It is about the dignity of our people and undoing the injustice of 1897.' British troops launched a punitive expedition against the Kingdom of Benin in 1897 after trading officials were abused. After capturing the capital, Benin City, troops looted the royal palace and took thousands of treasures, which were dispersed across Western museums and private collections. Cambridge's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology came to hold 116 bronzes, which it pledged to return at the same time Oxford's Pitt Rivers and Ashmolean museums promised to hand over their 97. While Cambridge had delayed its return over concerns about what would happen to repatriated artefacts, Oxford's case was held up by the Charity Commission. The regulator is required to sign off any decision to give away artefacts held by a charity, such as a university. The case has still not been resolved.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Netherlands to return stolen Benin Bronzes to Nigeria
The Netherlands says it will return more than 100 Benin Bronzes that British troops looted from Nigeria in the late 19th Century and which ended up in a Dutch museum. Thousands of these culturally significant sculptures and carvings were stolen during the violent destruction of Benin City, in modern-day Nigeria's Edo state, in 1897. The treasures were sold, some to private collectors and others to museums like the Wereldmuseum in The Netherlands, which has displayed these artefacts for decades. The return of the 119 artefacts is the "largest repatriation of Benin antiquities", said Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). Despite the name, not all the statues are made of bronze. They include figurines, tusks, sculptures of Benin's rulers, and an ivory mask. They were made during between the 15th and 19th Centuries. A transfer of agreement is due to be signed on Wednesday. Mr Holloway added that he hoped this would set a good example for other countries. Benin Bronzes: 'My great-grandfather sculpted the looted treasures' Why slave descendants want the Benin Bronzes to stay in US In 2022, Germany was the first to return over 20 Benin bronzes in a bid to deal with its "dark colonial history". "With this return, we are contributing to the redress of a historical injustice that is still felt today," said Dutch Minister of Culture, Education, and Science Eppo Bruins, reports the AFP news agency. The sculptures, prized for their beauty and technical artistry, are of spiritual and historical significance for the people from that part of Nigeria. Their theft still remains a point of pain for the descendants of those from the ancient Benin kingdom. This move may increase pressure on other institutions to return the Benin Bronzes, especially the British Museum, which has over 900 artefacts. Protests and demonstrations have taken place outside the British Museum as part of a campaign for their return. However, an act of parliament prevents the British Museum from sending them back. For many in Nigeria, the Benin Bronzes are a potent reminder of the violence of colonialism. The NCMM has issued formal repatriation requests to museums across the world. Nigeria said it plans to open the Edo Museum of West African Art in Benin City in 2026, designed by the British-Ghanaian architect Sir David Adjaye, to house the largest collection of Benin Bronzes ever assembled. Ghana, Nigeria and the quest for UK looted treasure Benin Bronzes declaration 'blindsides' museum officials The art dealer, the £10m Benin Bronze and the Holocaust Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
