Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy addresses a press conference on the achievements, reforms and key initiatives of the Government of India at Film Nagar Cultural Centre in Hyderabad on Monday (June 8, 2026)
| Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR
Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), a joint venture of three Central Public Sector Enterprises under the Ministry of Mines — including National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO) and Hindustan Copper Ltd. (HCL) — has secured five critical mineral blocks in Argentina, with operations already underway, said Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Monday (June 8, 2026).
Speaking at a press conference in Hyderabad, the Minister highlighted that the acquisition marks a significant step in India’s efforts to secure overseas mineral assets and reduce its heavy dependence on imports. Currently, nearly 93% of the country’s critical mineral requirements are met through imports, exposing key industries to supply risks.
To address this, the Centre has launched the National Critical Minerals Mission with an outlay of ₹32,000 crore, aimed at strengthening domestic capabilities and achieving long-term self-reliance. The mission aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader vision of securing resilient supply chains for strategic resources.
Strategic sectors which need critical minerals
Critical minerals are essential for high-growth and strategic sectors such as semiconductors, renewable energy, electric mobility and defence. The Ministry has adopted a comprehensive seven-point strategy covering exploration, mining, processing, recycling, and research and development. To boost circular economy efforts, ₹1,500 crore in incentives have been allocated to promote the recycling of critical minerals, he explained.
Extracting critical minerals from e-waste
“We are actively engaged in collecting e-waste and extracting critical minerals from it. Auctions of mineral blocks have been accelerated and completed within nine months of launching the mission,” Reddy said.
Initiative to explore rare earth elements in four States
A dedicated initiative has been launched to explore rare earth elements in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, as part of efforts to strengthen domestic resource availability. Odisha and Maharashtra have shown proactive participation in developing critical mineral processing capabilities. Additionally, the Centre has announced import duty exemptions on 24 critical minerals to support industry growth and reduce input costs, he added.
Published – June 08, 2026 05:22 pm IST
