New Delhi: India is confident of developing a fully integrated electric vehicle (EV) battery ecosystem within the next two to three years, Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal said on Friday, outlining a multi-pronged strategy covering lithium sourcing, critical mineral processing, overseas acquisitions and mining sector reforms.

Speaking to reporters, Goyal said the government’s roadmap for the EV battery value chain in India is expected to be completed in the near term.

“With the strategy that we have made, we are confident that the whole ecosystem of the EV battery chain will be ready in the next couple of years, or 2-3 years,” he said.

Lithium supply key to India's clean energy transition

Highlighting the importance of lithium for EV batteries, Goyal said the mineral remains central to India’s clean energy transition and electric mobility ambitions. While domestic reserves are limited—particularly compared to brine-based deposits in South America—India is focusing on securing supplies globally and expanding domestic processing capacity.

“In spodumene, lithium content is around 1-6%. Spodumene can be imported and further processed. The technology for this is available with our companies today,” he said.

However, he noted a major gap in the domestic lithium value chain in India, particularly in large-scale conversion into battery-grade materials.

“If lithium is brought, there is no conversion plan at scale, so it often gets traded abroad,” he said, stressing the need for stronger downstream processing infrastructure.

Critical minerals policy and global sourcing push

The government is close to finalising a dedicated policy on critical minerals processing in India, with two key EV-related minerals already identified.

India is also evaluating incentives to encourage private players to set up lithium and nickel processing plants in India, aimed at reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic refining capability.

To secure long-term supplies, India is exploring overseas mineral assets in Australia, South America and Canada, particularly for lithium and rare earth elements. A consortium of public sector undertakings, including Hindustan Copper Ltd, is in advanced stages of bidding for international blocks, including copper assets in Chile.

Goyal said global partnerships are being assessed on a “win-win” basis, balancing access to resources with technology cooperation.

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National Critical Mineral Mission gains pace

Under the National Critical Mineral Mission, 46 mineral blocks have already been auctioned against a target of 100, the Secretary said. A separate scheme to strengthen the critical minerals supply chain in India is also in advanced stages of implementation.

Domestically, India is working to extract critical minerals from industrial waste such as red mud, tailings and fly ash. Minerals like gallium and cadmium have already entered production, while work on tantalum and other elements is progressing.

However, Goyal said private sector participation remains cautious due to high capital costs and uncertain returns in critical mineral mining and processing.

Mining sector reforms boost output and transparency

Goyal highlighted significant reforms in the mining sector, stating that 212 mineral blocks were auctioned in 2025–26, compared to fewer than 100 annually earlier.

He credited reforms such as expanded exploration through the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET), private participation in surface minerals, and revival of dormant mines in coordination with states.

The National Geoscience Data Repository now hosts around 90,000 exploration reports, improving transparency and access to geological data across India’s mining sector.

Operationalisation of mines has also improved, with 25 mines becoming operational in the past year, compared to 58 in the previous decade. Digital auctions, faster approvals and penalties for delays have streamlined the Indian mining sector reforms process.

Metals, copper output and import substitution

On industrial metals, Goyal said aluminium and copper production remain stable despite global price pressures. India is increasingly shifting towards value addition by importing ore and processing it domestically.

He noted that around ₹43,000 crore worth of copper ore imports are now being processed in India, adding that the country is on track to meet its entire domestic demand for processed copper this year, with potential for future exports.

Rare earths, fertilisers and global supply pressures

The Secretary also highlighted the importance of coastal mineral resources such as monazite in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala for rare earth supply chains in India.

On fertilisers, he acknowledged continued dependence on imports, particularly potash, while noting ongoing international efforts to secure stable supplies.

West Asia crisis impact on supply chains

Addressing disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis, Goyal said the government has adopted a “whole-of-government approach” to safeguard critical supplies.

“Availability of LPG and critical inputs like explosives is being closely monitored... There has been some impact on prices, but we are working to mitigate it,” he said.

ANI