India is seeking to secure supplies of critical minerals such as lithium by exploring mining opportunities in Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Australia.

This initiative is part of the country's efforts to reduce reliance on imports for minerals crucial to energy transition technologies, reported Reuters.

India’s Mines Secretary V.L. Kantha Rao announced that companies such as Coal India, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Videsh are currently exploring for critical minerals in Australia.

The Zambian Government has allocated 9,000km² to India for the exploration of cobalt and copper.

Additionally, India is considering prospects in the DRC and Tanzania for mining these essential resources.

India's Mines Minister, G Kishan Reddy, noted that the country is also looking into lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir, with further information expected by May 2025.

India is yet to receive bids for mining rights in the region despite discovering an estimated 5.9 million tonnes (mt) of lithium deposits.

In 2023, India identified more than 20 minerals including lithium as "critical" to the nation's energy transition and to satisfy increasing demand from various industries and the infrastructure sector.

The country is still developing its lithium processing technology, a field currently led by China.

To advance this technology, India has reached out to countries such as Australia, Russia and the US for technical assistance.

Last month, India approved Rs163bn ($1.88bn) to secure raw materials such as lithium under the National Critical Mineral Mission.

An additional investment of Rs180bn is expected from the public sector.