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Time of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Clean tech revolution: Key role of critical minerals in Atmanirbhar Bharat
In 2010, a quiet but strategic event took place which would later alter the world's relationship with critical minerals . Following a maritime dispute with Japan, China implemented a temporary ban on rare earth element exports to Japan. The ban sent ripple effects down supply chains across the world - especially the automotive sector in Japan. Prices skyrocketed overnight. The world experienced perhaps for the first time in a meaningful way, that critical minerals like lithium and cobalt were not simply technical inputs; they were the new oil. They were a geopolitical asset that could wreck entire industries - clean energy, consumer electronics, defense, automotive, etc. As India strides toward becoming an economic powerhouse, the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) hinges not just on manufacturing capacity or policy frameworks, but also on control over critical minerals. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earths, all needed to create the batteries, motors and devices that will fuel the India of the future. But therein lies the dilemma—India has global aspirations, yet has little domestic access to the majority of these resources. The Backbone of the Clean Tech Revolution Lithium-ion batteries form the backbone of electric vehicles (EVs), grid-scale energy storage and portable electronics. According to IEA's Global EV Outlook 2024, global EV sales surpassed 14 million units in 2023, and the Indian EV market is forecasted to reach USD 152 billion by 2030. This entails a need for exponential growth in the number of batteries produced and, consequently, demand for critical minerals. However, India currently relies on importing more than 90 per cent of its lithium and cobalt. Supply is reportedly from China, Chile, and the Democrat Republic of Congo, creating a situation of over-reliance on a limited number of countries. There are risks with such over-reliance--not only in regard to cost and supply support, but also from a national security and industrial sovereignty perspective. The Case for Urban Mining While traditional mining faces environmental, social, and logistical hurdles, India sits on an untapped urban mine of immense potential: its electronic waste and spent lithium-ion batteries. India produced a total of 1.751 million e-waste last year, according to data presented by the Minister of State for Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. And lithium-ion batteries account for a growing share of this total. This is expected to touch 200,000 metric tonnes per year by 2030. Here's the opportunity Every tonne of spent lithium-ion batteries contains approximately 100 kg of valuable metals, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel. When recovered using advanced recycling techniques, these metals can be used to produce new batteries thus reducing reliance on imports, lowering environmental impact, and creating a domestic circular economy. We believe this is the frontier India must embrace. The Economic & Strategic Rationale Establishing a critical minerals strategy isn't just an environmental or industrial goal, it's an economic imperative. According to the World Bank, the demand for critical minerals could rise by 500 per cent by 2050 in order to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. If India can create domestic sourcing pathways through urban mining, closed-loop supply chains, and end-of-life battery recovery, it can save billions in import bills, reduce geopolitical risks, and create high-value green jobs in the clean-tech sector. The Indian government launched the National Critical Minerals Mission, announced in Budget 2025, with ₹34,300 crore allocated to identify and develop domestic resources. Lithium reserves in Jammu & Kashmir and exploration efforts in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh are steps toward reducing dependence on mineral-rich countries like China, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, while the government's Battery Waste Management Rules (2022) and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for ACC battery manufacturing are commendable steps forward, it is now essential to expand both the depth and breadth of our efforts. The Way Forward: A National Critical Mineral Strategy India Energy Storage Alliance's launch of the India Reuse and Recycling Council (IRRC) marks a significant step toward fostering a strong ecosystem for battery recycling and second-life applications. However, to truly achieve Atmanirbharta in the critical minerals sector, we need more than policy intent; we need a national integrated strategy. We must start with a focused urban mining infrastructure program. India is forecasted to produce more than 200,000 metric tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste annually by 2030 (CPCB), and we will need regionally distributed recycling capabilities coupled with local partners especially in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, states with lots of EV penetration. By developing a local partner that can leverage technology as well as other financial incentives to process large volumes of materials where sustainable recovery of critical materials is possible. Having a mandated collection and reverse logistics systems is just as important as the recycling infrastructure. OEMs should be held accountable for the lifecycle of their batteries via Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms, including systems to specify shipment norms, and clearly defined and measurable targets. The key component of any take-back system is a reliable ecosystem to ensure that retired batteries are not discarded, unrecycled into the landfill, or left untethered in the informal sector. At the same time, government support needs to be stepped up in terms of research and development for advanced recycling technologies, efficient extraction of rare-earth elements from e-waste. The shipping dispute between China and Japan was a wake-up call for the world. It made one thing clear: in the 21st century, minerals can move markets, unsettle economies, and shift the axis of power. That lesson is still relevant, perhaps even more so today and India must not fall behind in realising it.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Clean tech revolution: Key role of critical minerals in Atmanirbhar Bharat
Live Events In 2010, a quiet but strategic event took place which would later alter the world's relationship with critical minerals. Following a maritime dispute with Japan, China implemented a temporary ban on rare earth element exports to Japan. The ban sent ripple effects down supply chains across the world - especially the automotive sector in Japan. Prices skyrocketed overnight. The world experienced perhaps for the first time in a meaningful way, that critical minerals like lithium and cobalt were not simply technical inputs; they were the new oil. They were a geopolitical asset that could wreck entire industries - clean energy, consumer electronics, defense, automotive, India strides toward becoming an economic powerhouse, the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) hinges not just on manufacturing capacity or policy frameworks, but also on control over critical minerals. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earths, all needed to create the batteries, motors and devices that will fuel the India of the future. But therein lies the dilemma—India has global aspirations, yet has little domestic access to the majority of these batteries form the backbone of electric vehicles (EVs), grid-scale energy storage and portable electronics. According to IEA's Global EV Outlook 2024, global EV sales surpassed 14 million units in 2023, and the Indian EV market is forecasted to reach USD 152 billion by 2030. This entails a need for exponential growth in the number of batteries produced and, consequently, demand for critical India currently relies on importing more than 90% of its lithium and cobalt. Supply is reportedly from China, Chile, and the Democrat Republic of Congo, creating a situation of over-reliance on a limited number of countries. There are risks with such over-reliance--not only in regard to cost and supply support, but also from a national security and industrial sovereignty traditional mining faces environmental, social, and logistical hurdles, India sits on an untapped urban mine of immense potential: its electronic waste and spent lithium-ion produced a total of 1.751 million e-waste last year, according to data presented by the Minister of State for Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. And lithium-ion batteries account for a growing share of this total. This is expected to touch 200,000 metric tonnes per year by tonne of spent lithium-ion batteries contains approximately 100 kg of valuable metals, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel. When recovered using advanced recycling techniques, these metals can be used to produce new batteries thus reducing reliance on imports, lowering environmental impact, and creating a domestic circular economy. We believe this is the frontier India must a critical minerals strategy isn't just an environmental or industrial goal, it's an economic imperative. According to the World Bank , the demand for critical minerals could rise by 500% by 2050 in order to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. If India can create domestic sourcing pathways through urban mining, closed-loop supply chains, and end-of-life battery recovery, it can save billions in import bills, reduce geopolitical risks, and create high-value green jobs in the clean-tech Indian government launched the National Critical Minerals Mission, announced in Budget 2025, with ₹34,300 crore allocated to identify and develop domestic resources. Lithium reserves in Jammu & Kashmir and exploration efforts in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh are steps toward reducing dependence on mineral-rich countries like China, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, while the government's Battery Waste Management Rules (2022) and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for ACC battery manufacturing are commendable steps forward, it is now essential to expand both the depth and breadth of our Energy Storage Alliance's launch of the India Reuse and Recycling Council (IRRC) marks a significant step toward fostering a strong ecosystem for battery recycling and second-life applications. However, to truly achieve Atmanirbharta in the critical minerals sector, we need more than policy intent; we need a national integrated strategy. We must start with a focused urban mining infrastructure program. India is forecasted to produce more than 200,000 metric tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste annually by 2030 (CPCB), and we will need regionally distributed recycling capabilities coupled with local partners especially in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, states with lots of EV penetration. By developing a local partner that can leverage technology as well as other financial incentives to process large volumes of materials where sustainable recovery of critical materials is a mandated collection and reverse logistics systems is just as important as the recycling infrastructure. OEMs should be held accountable for the lifecycle of their batteries via Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms, including systems to specify shipment norms, and clearly defined and measurable targets. The key component of any take-back system is a reliable ecosystem to ensure that retired batteries are not discarded, unrecycled into the landfill, or left untethered in the informal the same time, government support needs to be stepped up in terms of research and development for advanced recycling technologies, efficient extraction of rare-earth elements from shipping dispute between China and Japan was a wake-up call for the world. It made one thing clear: in the 21st century, minerals can move markets, unsettle economies, and shift the axis of power. That lesson is still relevant, perhaps even more so today and India must not fall behind in realising author is co-Founder & CEO of MiniMines Cleantech Solutions
Economic Times
12-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Clean tech revolution: Key role of critical minerals in Atmanirbhar Bharat
AP India currently relies on importing more than 90% of its lithium and cobalt. In 2010, a quiet but strategic event took place which would later alter the world's relationship with critical minerals. Following a maritime dispute with Japan, China implemented a temporary ban on rare earth element exports to Japan. The ban sent ripple effects down supply chains across the world - especially the automotive sector in Japan. Prices skyrocketed overnight. The world experienced perhaps for the first time in a meaningful way, that critical minerals like lithium and cobalt were not simply technical inputs; they were the new oil. They were a geopolitical asset that could wreck entire industries - clean energy, consumer electronics, defense, automotive, etc. As India strides toward becoming an economic powerhouse, the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) hinges not just on manufacturing capacity or policy frameworks, but also on control over critical minerals. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earths, all needed to create the batteries, motors and devices that will fuel the India of the future. But therein lies the dilemma—India has global aspirations, yet has little domestic access to the majority of these resources. The Backbone of the Clean Tech RevolutionLithium-ion batteries form the backbone of electric vehicles (EVs), grid-scale energy storage and portable electronics. According to IEA's Global EV Outlook 2024, global EV sales surpassed 14 million units in 2023, and the Indian EV market is forecasted to reach USD 152 billion by 2030. This entails a need for exponential growth in the number of batteries produced and, consequently, demand for critical India currently relies on importing more than 90% of its lithium and cobalt. Supply is reportedly from China, Chile, and the Democrat Republic of Congo, creating a situation of over-reliance on a limited number of countries. There are risks with such over-reliance--not only in regard to cost and supply support, but also from a national security and industrial sovereignty perspective. The Case for Urban Mining While traditional mining faces environmental, social, and logistical hurdles, India sits on an untapped urban mine of immense potential: its electronic waste and spent lithium-ion produced a total of 1.751 million e-waste last year, according to data presented by the Minister of State for Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. And lithium-ion batteries account for a growing share of this total. This is expected to touch 200,000 metric tonnes per year by the opportunityEvery tonne of spent lithium-ion batteries contains approximately 100 kg of valuable metals, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel. When recovered using advanced recycling techniques, these metals can be used to produce new batteries thus reducing reliance on imports, lowering environmental impact, and creating a domestic circular economy. We believe this is the frontier India must embrace. The Economic & Strategic Rationale Establishing a critical minerals strategy isn't just an environmental or industrial goal, it's an economic imperative. According to the World Bank, the demand for critical minerals could rise by 500% by 2050 in order to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. If India can create domestic sourcing pathways through urban mining, closed-loop supply chains, and end-of-life battery recovery, it can save billions in import bills, reduce geopolitical risks, and create high-value green jobs in the clean-tech sector. The Indian government launched the National Critical Minerals Mission, announced in Budget 2025, with ₹34,300 crore allocated to identify and develop domestic resources. Lithium reserves in Jammu & Kashmir and exploration efforts in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh are steps toward reducing dependence on mineral-rich countries like China, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, while the government's Battery Waste Management Rules (2022) and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for ACC battery manufacturing are commendable steps forward, it is now essential to expand both the depth and breadth of our efforts. The Way Forward: A National Critical Mineral Strategy India Energy Storage Alliance's launch of the India Reuse and Recycling Council (IRRC) marks a significant step toward fostering a strong ecosystem for battery recycling and second-life applications. However, to truly achieve Atmanirbharta in the critical minerals sector, we need more than policy intent; we need a national integrated strategy. We must start with a focused urban mining infrastructure program. India is forecasted to produce more than 200,000 metric tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste annually by 2030 (CPCB), and we will need regionally distributed recycling capabilities coupled with local partners especially in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, states with lots of EV penetration. By developing a local partner that can leverage technology as well as other financial incentives to process large volumes of materials where sustainable recovery of critical materials is possible. Having a mandated collection and reverse logistics systems is just as important as the recycling infrastructure. OEMs should be held accountable for the lifecycle of their batteries via Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) norms, including systems to specify shipment norms, and clearly defined and measurable targets. The key component of any take-back system is a reliable ecosystem to ensure that retired batteries are not discarded, unrecycled into the landfill, or left untethered in the informal the same time, government support needs to be stepped up in terms of research and development for advanced recycling technologies, efficient extraction of rare-earth elements from shipping dispute between China and Japan was a wake-up call for the world. It made one thing clear: in the 21st century, minerals can move markets, unsettle economies, and shift the axis of power. That lesson is still relevant, perhaps even more so today and India must not fall behind in realising it. The author is co-Founder & CEO of MiniMines Cleantech Solutions
Time of India
19-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
BSL's special-grade steel powers Navy warfare
1 2 Bokaro: The Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) has marked another significant step in India's journey towards defence self-reliance by supplying special-grade steel for the Navy's first indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), INS Arnala, which was inducted into service on June 18, it said in a statement. Out of the 3,500 tonnes of special steel supplied by SAIL for the ASW-SWC project, BSL contributed 3,100 tonnes. This special-grade steel was used not only in INS Arnala but also in seven other warships under construction at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), showcasing BSL's critical role in strengthening India's naval capabilities, said a SAIL official. This move reinforces SAIL's role in advancing the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) mission. By reducing reliance on imported materials, BSL is contributing to a robust and indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem. Earlier, SAIL-BSL provided special steel for INS Vikrant, INS Vindhyagiri, INS Nilgiri, and INS Surat.
India Today
17-06-2025
- India Today
First of 16 indigenous anti-submarine ships 'Arnala' to join Navy on June 18
The Indian Navy is set to significantly bolster its coastal defence capabilities with the induction of 16 indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) class of ships. The first ship, Arnala, was delivered on May 8 and is scheduled to be commissioned into the Navy on June 18. These vessels represent a significant addition to India's maritime security capability and underscore the success of the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative in the defence by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), these ships would replace the ageing Abhay-class corvettes. With over 80 indigenous technologies in place, these ships reflect India's growing self-reliance in shipbuilding and defence technology. Indigenous shipbuilding not only strengthens the domestic defence industry but also reduces dependence on foreign suppliers, ensuring India's strategic autonomy and supporting uninterrupted maintenance and primary role of these ASW-SWC ships is to detect, track and prosecute enemy submarines, particularly in coastal and shallow water regions. Equipped with advanced underwater sensors such as the Hull-Mounted Sonar Abhay, Underwater Acoustic Communication System (UWACS) and Low-Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS), these vessels are capable of comprehensive underwater surveillance. These ships feature a state-of-the-art weapon suite, including lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, Anti-Torpedo Decoys and advanced mine-laying capabilities to neutralise underwater threats. The integration of sensors and weapons into the Combat Management System (CMS) and an Integrated ASW Complex (IAC) further enhances their combat induction of the 16 ASW-SWCs would have a profound impact on the Indian Navy's operational capabilities. These ships would facilitate continuous and effective protection of India's vast coastline and critical offshore assets from submarine threats, enabling the Indian Navy to counter the growing subsurface threat in the Indian Ocean Region, thereby contributing to regional stability. These ships also possess the capability of operating in shallow waters, making them ideal for tasks close to the shore, including patrolling, surveillance and humanitarian success of the ASW SWC project reinforces India's commitment to 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' in defence by demonstrating that India possesses the design, manufacturing, and technological prowess to build complex warships with advanced indigenous systems. The commissioning of Arnala will provide a fillip to indigenous defence projects, progressively reducing dependence on foreign arms imports and strengthening India's strategic autonomy on the global induction of Arnala, the first of 16 indigenous ASW-SWC ships, marks a pivotal moment for the Indian Navy. It is set to transform the Navy's anti-submarine warfare posture, strengthen coastal defence and solidify India's position as a capable and self-reliant maritime power in the Indian Ocean InMust Watch
