India's journey toward self-reliance in the critical rare earth minerals sector requires strategic international collaboration, according to industry leaders and government officials. The call for partnerships with friendly nations emerged as a central theme during a high-level conference in Chennai focused on securing India's technological future.
Opening the Floor to Global Partnerships
At the Confederation of Indian Industry's Conference on 'Building Resilient Rare Earth Metal Supply Chains Through Technology Localisation' held on November 7 in Chennai, experts emphasized that India cannot afford to be selective in its approach to partnerships. R Saravanabhavan, Deputy Adviser (Minerals) at NITI Aayog, set the tone by declaring India's open approach to collaboration.
"We cannot have any yardstick by which to partner or not to partner. Our idea is to open the floor, actually. Whichever country they want to come and join hands with us, we are ready to take it forward," Saravanabhavan stated during the event.
Air Marshal M Matheswaran (Retd), former Deputy Chief of the Indian Integrated Defence Staff, reinforced this perspective while acknowledging the significant challenges ahead. "Right now, we've just realized that we need to create capabilities much more than what we have right now. There is, however, a very big mountain to climb," he noted.
Tamil Nadu's Strategic Role in Rare Earth Development
The southern state of Tamil Nadu emerged as a potential hub for India's rare earth ambitions due to its substantial mineral resources. Wing Commander P Madhusoodhanan, Vice President - Aerospace and Defence at Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (TIDCO), highlighted the state's natural advantages.
"Rare earths are available in plenty in Tamil Nadu. Monazite is available in the southern parts of the state, and if you look at the maximum amount of availability of rare earth elements, they are in Tamil Nadu and Kerala," Madhusoodhanan explained.
However, he pointed out a critical gap in the current ecosystem. "It's a question of processing them. There is a limited amount of processing which is happening. It's not actually matching the resources. Refining does not exist as of now. Once refining and recycling are in place, this becomes an end-to-end ecosystem in the state."
The Technology Challenge and Strategic Alliances
While emphasizing the need for international cooperation, Air Marshal Matheswaran delivered a sobering reality check about technology transfer. "In terms of partnership, yes, we have to work with friends. Japan, Australia, Singapore, Korea, US, UK. These are all countries with which we have industry and trade relations. But nobody gives you tech," he cautioned.
This acknowledgment underscores the complex dynamics of global critical minerals supply chain development, where nations protect their technological advantages even while pursuing strategic partnerships.
The conference participants recognized that rare earth materials, comprising 17 chemical elements including the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium, are essential for modern technology. Their unique properties—high magnetic strength, luminescence, and catalytic capabilities—make them indispensable for smartphones, electric vehicles, medical equipment, and defense applications.
As India positions itself in the global rare earth landscape, the consensus from Chennai indicates that building domestic capabilities through strategic international partnerships represents the most viable path forward for securing the country's technological sovereignty and economic future.
