India Eyes Siberian Rare Earth Deposits to Diversify Critical Mineral Supply

India is intensifying its strategic pursuit of critical minerals by exploring rare earth samples from Russia’s massive Tomtor deposit in Siberia. This move is part of a larger mission to de-risk supply chains and reduce heavy reliance on China for essential raw materials.

Strategic Negotiations with Rosneft for Tomtor Samples

State-owned miner IREL (India's Rare Earths Limited), which operates under the Department of Atomic Energy, is currently in discussions with the Russian oil major Rosneft to source mineral samples from the Tomtor deposit in Yakutia. These negotiations are reportedly being conducted through formal government channels to ensure diplomatic and commercial alignment.

The Tomtor deposit is recognized as one of the world’s largest undeveloped rare earth sites. According to reports, the samples will undergo initial processing in Russia before being shipped to India. This preliminary stage is crucial; India intends to conduct an intensive study of the mineral composition at Tomtor to evaluate the feasibility of long-term commercial engagement before committing to deeper investments.

Reducing Dependency on China and Building Domestic Capacity

The push for Siberian minerals comes at a time when India is aggressively seeking alternatives to China, which dominates the global rare earth market. Rare earth elements are indispensable for high-growth sectors, including electric vehicle (EV) motors, advanced defense systems, and clean energy technologies.

While India holds the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves—estimated at approximately 7.23 million metric tons—the nation currently faces a significant technical gap. It lacks large-scale refining capacity for high-purity separation and does not yet produce rare earth magnets at a commercial scale. To bridge this gap, the Indian government has approved a ₹73 billion ($770.77 million) programme specifically designed to boost domestic rare earth magnet production, with a target operational timeline of 2029–30.

A Global Multi-Pronged Sourcing Strategy

The engagement with Russia is just one facet of India's diversified mineral diplomacy. IREL is simultaneously pursuing a multi-country strategy to secure a steady feedstock for its upcoming domestic industries.

In parallel with the Russian discussions, IREL is holding talks with firms in Japan and South Korea. Furthermore, India is actively evaluating mining prospects in several other key geographies, including Argentina, Australia, and Malawi. This follows previous exploration efforts in Myanmar, underscoring India's determination to build a resilient, globalized supply chain that can support its transition toward a green and high-tech economy.

Key Takeaways