Siberian rare earth mine under overcast sky with excavator and processing domes.
India is reportedly in talks with Russia’s state-controlled oil company, Rosneft, to explore and potentially tap the vast rare earth element (REE) reserves located in Siberia. This strategic move aims to bolster India’s supply chain for these critical minerals, which are essential for the manufacturing of electric vehicle (EV) motors, advanced electronics, and defense technologies.
The partnership, initiated during a recent India-Russia summit, is driven by India’s increasing reliance on imports for REEs and the desire to secure stable, long-term access to these vital resources. Past disruptions in global supply chains have highlighted the vulnerability of depending on external sources for critical materials.
The discussions are expected to focus on developing the necessary processing technologies to extract and refine the rare earth elements found in Siberian deposits. A key objective is to establish capabilities for producing essential rare-earth magnets, a crucial component in high-performance electric motors and wind turbines. This collaboration could represent a significant cross-border investment in the mining and processing of strategic minerals.
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