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Coal India has partnered with the Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation via an initial agreement to jointly explore and mine critical minerals & other valuable resources of mutual interest.
FYI: critical minerals like lithium and cobalt power EVs and renewables. Coal India is expanding beyond coal, exploring and mining these resources to help India secure supplies for its clean energy transition.
The deets: Coal India formally entered the critical minerals sector after being chosen as the ‘preferred bidder’ for the Khattali Chotti graphite block in Madhya Pradesh.
Why it matters: the exploration of critical minerals has picked up significant pace in recent months amid rising global tensions. This surge follows the U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff measures and China’s move to restrict the export of key minerals.
These minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, are essential for making electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy systems.
Big picture: global demand for key energy minerals has surged in recent years. Lithium demand alone jumped nearly 30% in 2024, far above the 10% annual growth seen in the 2010s.
China dominates refining for 19 of the 20 most critical minerals, holding an average 70% global share. Many of these minerals are now more volatile than oil, reflecting fragile supply chains.
Amid this, Coal India’s entry into critical minerals marks a strategic move toward self-reliance in resources that will power India’s clean energy and technology future.
