Mines Secretary raises alarm over operational delays in mineral sector

Keshav Chandra, Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, has expressed concern over operational bottlenecks affecting India's mineral output. Speaking on the issue, Chandra noted that delays between the grant of environmental clearances and the actual signing of mining leases are constraining production schedules across the sector.

These delays represent a significant challenge for India's mineral security objectives, particularly as the country seeks to expand domestic production of critical minerals. The bottlenecks occur at a stage when projects have already cleared regulatory hurdles, suggesting procedural or administrative factors may be contributing to the hold-ups.

To address supply gaps in key minerals, the ministry is preparing comprehensive processing schemes for lithium and nickel. Both minerals are critical for India's energy transition goals, with lithium essential for battery manufacturing and nickel required for stainless steel production and emerging battery technologies.

The new schemes are expected to be unveiled shortly and are likely to include measures to streamline operations and reduce timeframes from clearance to production. Officials indicated that the initiatives would be part of a broader push to enhance India's mineral self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on imports.