India Eyes Russian Siberian Deposit to Secure Critical Rare Earth Supplies

India is intensifying its strategic efforts to diversify critical mineral supply chains by entering talks to source rare earth samples from Russia's massive Tomtor deposit. This move signals New Delhi's growing urgency to reduce its heavy reliance on China for minerals essential to high-tech industries.

Strategic Engagement with Russia’s Tomtor Deposit

State-owned miner IREL, operating under the Department of Atomic Energy, is currently in discussions with the Russian oil major Rosneft regarding the Tomtor deposit in Siberia. Rosneft acquired this site last year, and it is considered one of the world’s largest undeveloped rare earth deposits located in the Yakutia region.

According to reports, these discussions are being facilitated through official government channels. The proposed plan involves processing the mineral samples within Russia before they are shipped to India for detailed analysis. India intends to conduct a rigorous study of the mineral composition at Tomtor to determine the viability of a deeper, long-term commercial engagement.

Diversification Strategy Amid China Dependency

The pursuit of Russian minerals is part of a broader geopolitical and economic strategy to decouple critical supply chains from China. Rare earth elements are indispensable components in the manufacturing of electric vehicle (EV) motors, advanced defence systems, and clean energy technologies.

While India possesses the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves—estimated at approximately 7.23 million metric tons—the nation currently faces a significant gap in large-scale refining and high-purity separation capacity. To bridge this, the Indian government has approved a ₹73 billion ($770.77 million) programme aimed at boosting domestic rare earth magnet production.

A Global Search for Mineral Security

India's search for mineral security is multi-pronged and geographically diverse. While IREL is exploring the Siberian route, it is simultaneously conducting parallel discussions with firms in Japan and South Korea. The government is also evaluating mining prospects in several other nations, including:

The ultimate goal is to establish a robust domestic ecosystem, with the government targeting large-scale magnet production by the 2029–30 period. By securing diverse sources of raw materials, India aims to build a self-reliant manufacturing base for the technologies of the future.

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