[Answered] Examine the policy measures and technological innovations required for India to overcome the dependency on imports for critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies.

India’s clean energy ambitions are heavily reliant on critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. However, the country currently faces a high import dependency on these resources.

Policy measures to overcome dependency on imports

• Domestic Exploration and Mining: Encouraging domestic exploration and mining of critical minerals through policy incentives and regulatory reforms can enhance self-sufficiency. This includes streamlining permit processes, providing financial incentives, and promoting research and development in mining technologies.
• Diversification of Sources: India should focus on diversifying its sources of critical minerals by engaging in strategic partnerships with countries possessing abundant reserves. This reduces reliance on a single source and minimizes supply chain disruptions.
• Policy support: Two important steps have been taken by the government in the past year on the subject of critical minerals. The first was to identify a list of 30 critical minerals & the second was to amend the existing mining laws to allow private sector participation in the auction of 20 blocks of critical minerals/rare earths. India has signed an agreement with Australia to jointly explore lithium and cobalt assets in Australia.

Technological Innovations to overcome dependency on imports

• Research and Development (R&D) Expenditure: Investing more in R&D for alternative materials and technologies can aid in the quest for crucial mineral replacements. To lessen dependency on finite resources, this entails investigating novel materials, procedures, and recycling techniques.
• Technological Innovation: The efficiency and sustainability of mineral production can be increased by creating novel extraction, processing, and refining technologies. This includes cutting-edge methods that can extract minerals from waste materials and lower-grade ores, like hydrometallurgy, solvent extraction, and bioleaching.
• Recycling and Circular Economy: Promoting recycling and the development of a circular economy for critical minerals can reduce the demand for new extraction and imports. Innovative technologies and policies should incentivize the collection, recycling, and reuse of minerals from end-of-life products and waste streams.

Conclusion

By implementing a combination of these policy measures and technological innovations, India can become more self-sufficient in critical minerals and ensure the long-term sustainability of its clean energy transition.