State-run Coal India is actively seeking critical minerals in Argentina and is currently in discussions with Chilean officials regarding lithium, according to India’s federal mines secretary, V. L. Kantha Rao.
India is prioritizing the acquisition of lithium, a vital component for electric vehicle batteries, as part of its broader strategy to promote clean energy. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration identified 30 minerals, including lithium, nickel, titanium, vanadium, and tungsten, as essential for advancing this goal.
“Coal India and other companies are exploring opportunities in Argentina,” Rao stated at an industry conference. Earlier this year, it was reported that Coal India was investigating lithium blocks in Argentina in collaboration with a U.S. company as part of India’s involvement in the U.S.-led Minerals Security Partnership (MSP).
As one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters, India is forging international agreements to secure essential minerals from resource-rich nations like Australia, Argentina, and Chile.
Additionally, India’s state-owned Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) is pursuing opportunities in Australia and has received permission for “non-invasive” exploration in Argentina, Rao noted. KABIL has secured five exploration blocks in Argentina, with permission granted for three of them to conduct non-invasive assessments. In January, KABIL entered a $24 million agreement for lithium exploration covering these five blocks.
