Aligning India’s Critical Mineral Strategy with African Priorities for Mutual Benefits
India’s National Critical Minerals Mission stresses international collaboration for securing essential mineral resources. A recent CSEP paper by Dr. Veda Vaidyanathan outlines strategies for India to align its interests with African nations rich in minerals. Recommendations include forming task forces, developing research collaborations, and mobilizing private investments in Africa for sustainable resource management. This approach aims to enhance India’s position in the critical minerals supply chain in a geopolitically significant era.
India’s National Critical Minerals Mission, initiated in January 2025, emphasizes the need for foreign acquisition of vital mineral resources, enhancing trade with resource-rich nations, and establishing Critical Mineral Partnership Agreements. However, the mission lacks specificity on execution strategies in target regions. To address this gap, the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) recently published a paper titled “India, Africa and Critical Minerals: Towards a Green Energy Partnership” by Dr. Veda Vaidyanathan, which outlines strategic collaborations India can forge with African nations rich in minerals.
This paper adopts a unique methodology that includes comprehensive interviews and private discussions with policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society stakeholders. Dr. Vaidyanathan’s analysis highlights African priorities and Indian interests, proposing nine policy pathways to identify mutual benefits in the critical minerals sector amidst a complex geopolitical environment.
In a world where green energy transitions are crucial, the study points out that recognizing and aligning the interests of Africa and India is essential for New Delhi’s strategy to diversify and strengthen its supply chains for critical minerals. In the short term, recommendations include establishing a task force comprising the Inter-Ministerial Group on Critical Minerals and experts from industry and academia.
This task force could draft a white paper outlining the readiness of Indian companies of various sizes to integrate into the mining sector in select African nations, along with strategies to navigate competition and mitigate associated risks. Furthermore, developing credible India–Africa research frameworks can pin-point deficiencies, opportunities, and risk management strategies. By leveraging established research collaborations in countries like Tanzania and Ghana, India could create impactful partnerships.
In the long term, the private sector should engage more actively in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) by acquiring exploration licenses, forming joint ventures, or establishing refineries in the region. The proposal of a “Critical Minerals Compact” during the forthcoming India–Africa Forum Summit could facilitate enhanced collaboration focused on critical minerals.
New Delhi’s position as a prominent voice for the Global South allows it to initiate and lead international cooperative efforts on responsible sourcing of critical minerals. As detailed in Dr. Vaidyanathan’s paper, such initiatives could significantly advance India’s strategic interests within the global context of mineral supply chains.
The alignment of India’s interests in critical minerals with African priorities presents a unique opportunity to forge strategic collaborations that benefit both parties. The recommendations provided in Dr. Vaidyanathan’s paper highlight the importance of establishing task forces and research frameworks to support Indian companies in exploring opportunities in Africa. Long-term efforts to mobilize private sector investment in the SADC region and launch initiatives like a Critical Minerals Compact can further strengthen these partnerships.
Original Source: m.economictimes.com
