On November 13, 2024, India’s Ministry of Mines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to enhance cooperation in the area of critical minerals. This partnership aims to provide India with valuable access to reliable data, analyses, and policy recommendations within the critical mineral sector, thereby supporting informed decision-making and strategic resource management.
The MoU is expected to streamline India’s policies, regulations, and investment strategies related to critical minerals, aligning them with global standards and best practices. By learning from the experiences of other IEA member states, India aims to expedite its progress toward sustainable energy systems. Additionally, the collaboration is set to boost India’s technical capabilities and institutional capacity through improved data collection, modeling, and analysis. It will also facilitate joint research projects, workshops, and training programs that foster innovation in technology development, extraction techniques, and recycling methods for critical minerals.
The significance of this MoU lies in its potential to support India’s self-reliance (Atmanirbar) roadmap by identifying and developing value chains for critical minerals essential for national economic development and security. As part of this initiative, India has previously identified 30 critical minerals necessary for various sectors, including defense, agriculture, and telecommunications. Thus, this partnership not only aims to enhance India’s critical mineral sector but also aligns with broader global efforts towards sustainable resource management and energy systems.