Atomic Ambition: India Opens Its Secret Mineral Reserves

The Indian government is planning to open up the exploration of the country’s vast thorium and monazite reserves—the largest in the world—to private sector participation, marking a major shift in the nuclear minerals space.

Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for the Department of Atomic Energy, said the move is aimed at reducing India’s dependence on foreign sources for critical minerals. Emphasising the importance of private participation, he noted that the government is working to onboard private players with appropriate safeguards in place.

This initiative follows the passage of the nuclear energy Bill in December 2025, which, for the first time since Independence, allows private participation in India’s civil nuclear energy sector.

India is estimated to possess nearly 8,50,000 tonnes of thorium and about 11.93 million tonnes of monazite, a key thorium-bearing mineral. These reserves hold significant potential for strengthening the country’s long-term nuclear power generation capacity and energy security.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.