Source: ETE
Context: The Ministry of Mines has issued guidelines for establishing Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to accelerate research, innovation, and extraction technologies in critical minerals.
About National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM):
- What it is?
- The National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) is a flagship initiative launched to ensure the secure, resilient, and sustainable supply of critical minerals essential for India’s clean energy transition, technological advancement, defence, and strategic sectors.
- Launched in: Union Budget 2024–25.
- Ministry: Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
- Aim:
- To enhance exploration, mining, processing, recycling, and securing supply chains for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements (REEs), graphite, nickel, and others.
- To support Net Zero 2070 goals, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and energy security.
- Components of NCMM:
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- Exploration and Mining: The Mission plans over 1200 exploration projects to identify critical mineral reserves and auction 100+ mineral blocks for commercial mining to boost domestic supply.
- Overseas Acquisition: It facilitates Indian public and private sector companies to acquire mineral assets abroad, particularly in countries like Argentina, Australia, and Chile, ensuring strategic resource security.
- Recycling and Circular Economy: The Mission promotes recycling of critical minerals by creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and offering incentives to reduce import dependence and environmental degradation.
- Research and Innovation: Establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) is planned to drive cutting-edge R&D in extraction, processing, beneficiation, and advanced critical mineral technologies.
- Skill Development: The Mission introduces specialized training programs, new academic courses, and scholarships to create a skilled workforce needed for India’s emerging critical minerals sector.
- Infrastructure Development: It focuses on building mineral processing parks and national stockpiles to strengthen India’s refining, storage, and distribution network for critical minerals.
