Canadian High Commissioner to India Chris Cooter said on Monday that Canada sees significant opportunities to deepen cooperation with India in critical minerals and clean energy, as both countries seek reliable partners amid global geopolitical and economic disruptions.
Complementary Strengths in Critical Minerals
Speaking to ANI, Cooter emphasized that Canada and India are well-positioned to complement each other's strengths, particularly in the clean energy transition and critical minerals sector. "Countries like Canada and like India, I would say, are looking for partners that they can rely on. And Canada and India then fit very well together," he said. He used a gear analogy: "If you think of it as two gears, they're gears that need to come together because one can propel the other if they fit. And they do fit very well on critical minerals."
Vast Mineral Reserves for India's Growth
Cooter highlighted Canada's resource base, noting the country possesses vast reserves of minerals essential for India's industrial growth and energy transition. "We have something like six billion tons of metallurgical coal in Canada," he said, pointing out that Canada currently exports only a fraction of India's annual coal imports despite having "lots and lots of headroom to grow." He also mentioned cooperation in uranium, nickel, lithium, rare earth elements, and tungsten, positioning Canada as a long-term and reliable supplier.
Uranium for India's Nuclear Expansion
On uranium, Cooter stated, "We're the number two in terms of production of uranium in the world. You have set a goal of 100 gigawatts for nuclear power. Right now you're at 8 gigawatts. The remaining 92 gigawatts needs uranium." This underscores Canada's potential role in fueling India's ambitious nuclear power expansion.
Rare Earth Processing Leadership
Regarding rare earths, Cooter noted, "We have one-third of all of the active projects outside of China taking place in Canada," adding that Canada has established North America's first rare earth processing facility in Saskatchewan. This positions Canada as a key player in diversifying rare earth supply chains away from China.
Faster Approvals for Mining Projects
Cooter said Canada is accelerating approvals for mining and infrastructure projects to strengthen supply chains. "We're moving to get approvals done in about half the time or less than they were before. We're looking at one-year approvals for mines, for example, in British Columbia," he explained.
Energy Exports to Support India's Security
The envoy also highlighted Canada's growing energy export capacity, including natural gas, LPG, and oil, which could support India's energy security needs. "We will be able to produce and ship 50 million tons of natural gas within the next one to two years. We will be able to produce LPG for you," he said, adding that Canada is expanding infrastructure on its west coast to facilitate exports to Asian markets.
