New Delhi: India is aiming to build a complete electric vehicle (EV) battery ecosystem within the next two to three years, with a strategy focused on securing raw materials, boosting domestic processing and expanding global partnerships, Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal, said, ANI reported.
Speaking in New Delhi, Goyal said the government is confident of developing the entire EV battery value chain in a short timeframe. He noted that lithium remains central to the country’s clean energy plans, especially as lithium-ion technology continues to dominate EV batteries.
While India has limited domestic lithium reserves, the government is working to secure supplies from overseas and strengthen local processing capacity. Goyal said spodumene, a key lithium-bearing mineral, can be imported and processed using technology already available with Indian companies.
However, he pointed out that large-scale conversion facilities are still lacking, with much of the raw material currently being processed abroad. To address this gap, the government is preparing a policy focused on processing critical minerals and is considering incentives to encourage companies to set up lithium and nickel processing units in India.
To ensure steady supply, India is exploring mineral assets in regions such as South America, Australia and Canada. Public sector firms, including Hindustan Copper Limited, are actively bidding for overseas mining blocks, including copper assets in Chile.
At the same time, the government is promoting the recovery of critical minerals from industrial waste like fly ash and tailings. Some minerals, including gallium and cadmium, have already entered production, while work on others such as tantalum is progressing.
Under the National Critical Mineral Mission, 46 blocks have been auctioned so far, with a target of 100. The government is also working on a separate scheme to strengthen the overall value chain for these minerals.
Reforms in the mining sector have also accelerated activity. A total of 212 mineral blocks were auctioned in 2025–26, compared to fewer than 100 annually in earlier years. Officials said improved data access through the National Geoscience Data Repository and faster approval processes have helped streamline operations.
Goyal said India is also moving towards greater value addition in metals such as copper, shifting from importing refined products to processing ores domestically. He added that the country is expected to fully meet its domestic demand for processed copper this year, with scope for exports.
He also highlighted the importance of coastal mineral resources like monazite in states such as Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala for building rare earth supply chains.
On fertilisers, he said India continues to depend on imports, especially for potash, though efforts are underway to secure supplies through global partnerships.
Addressing concerns over global disruptions, including tensions in West Asia, the Secretary said the government is closely monitoring supply chains and working to manage any impact on prices and availability of key inputs.
