Powering Up: India Charts ₹500Cr Map for Critical Mineral Hubs

The government has identified Odisha, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra as locations for setting up four critical mineral value processing parks under the National Critical Mineral Mission, with an allocation of ₹500 crore.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening India’s mineral processing ecosystem and reducing reliance on imports. Mines Secretary Piyush Goyal said that developing a complete value chain is crucial for fully utilising critical minerals, as extraction alone is not sufficient without downstream processing capabilities. He expressed optimism about making significant progress on the project by the end of the year.

The selected states were chosen for their strategic port connectivity, which is expected to facilitate efficient logistics and support export-import operations.

The parks will focus on key minerals such as lithium and cobalt, which are essential for electric vehicle batteries and clean energy technologies. The initiative is expected to boost industrial capacity, enhance supply chain resilience, and support India’s transition toward sustainable energy and advanced manufacturing.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.