India’s Overseas Strategy for Critical Minerals
India’s Overseas Strategy for Critical Minerals
Why in News?
Indian critical-minerals company LOHUM has commenced lithium mining operations in Zimbabwe and dispatched its first shipment of lithium ore to India, marking its first overseas mining operation and, according to the company, the first such lithium operation by an Indian company globally.
LOHUM’s Lithium Operations in Zimbabwe
• LOHUM has secured rights to 10 spodumene-bearing lithium mining blocks in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Province, covering about 1,100 hectares.
• The blocks are estimated to contain 30–40 million tonnes of ore and could support production of around 30,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually for 30 years, according to the company’s stated target.
• The company has an option to acquire up to 90 additional adjacent mining blocks, expanding its potential resource base.
• LOHUM plans to develop processing capabilities in Zimbabwe rather than simply exporting raw ore, thereby expanding its presence across mining, refining, advanced manufacturing and recycling.
Why Overseas Mineral Assets Matter for India
• India currently has around 100% import dependence on lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, with about three-fourths of imports coming mainly from China, making overseas access to lithium strategically important.
• Lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper and rare earth elements are critical inputs for electric vehicles, battery manufacturing, wind turbines, electricity networks and other clean-energy technologies.
• Securing minerals at the source can help India diversify supply chains, reduce vulnerability to external disruptions and strengthen its electric-vehicle and clean-energy ecosystem.
India’s Overseas Critical-Mineral Push
India is increasingly looking beyond domestic reserves by using overseas mining and exploration opportunities to secure critical minerals.
• Zimbabwe: LOHUM has acquired rights to lithium-bearing mining blocks in Matabeleland South, while planning local processing capabilities.
• Australia: Public-sector entities such as Coal India, NMDC and ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) are exploring critical-mineral blocks.
• Zambia: The Zambian Government agreed in 2025 to provide India with a 9,000 sq km greenfield area for exploration of cobalt and copper.
• These initiatives indicate a shift from dependence on mineral imports towards securing mineral resources and mining rights at the source.
From Mining to the Wider Value Chain
India’s overseas approach is not limited to acquiring mineral deposits. LOHUM’s Zimbabwe operation illustrates an attempt to build a wider value chain involving mining, processing, refining, advanced manufacturing and recycling.
What is Spodumene?
• Spodumene is a lithium aluminium silicate mineral with the chemical formula LiAlSi₂O₆.
• It belongs to the pyroxene family and is an important ore of lithium.
• It is commonly found in lithium-bearing granite pegmatites.
• Spodumene also occurs in gem varieties such as kunzite and hiddenite, although its principal strategic significance comes from its role as a source of lithium.
