India now eyes Africa for critical minerals

Context: India is looking at Africa for critical minerals.

• India is looking at Zambia, Namibia, Congo, Ghana and Mozambique for minerals.
• The Geological Survey of India found 9 million tonnes of lithium-inferred resources in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi district of J&K.

Critical Minerals are a type of mineral resource that meet two key criteria:

• Essential for Modern Technologies like clean energy technologies, electronics, and defense systems.
• Supply Chain Risks due to factors like:
  • Limited geological availability
  • Concentration of their extraction or processing in just a few countries
  • Geopolitical issues or trade policies

Examples: Lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite which are vital for battery performance in electric vehicles and electronics.

Source: The Hindu