India Eyes Russian Siberian Rare Earth Deposits to Secure Supply Chains

India is intensifying its strategic push to diversify critical mineral supply chains by exploring rare earth samples from Russia’s massive Tomtor deposit in Siberia. This move comes as New Delhi seeks to reduce its heavy reliance on China for the essential minerals required to power its burgeoning green energy and defense sectors.

Strategic Negotiations with Rosneft over Tomtor Deposit

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

According to reports, these high-level discussions are being routed through official government channels. The proposed plan involves sourcing mineral samples from the Siberian site, which will undergo initial processing in Russia before being shipped to India for detailed analysis. India’s immediate objective is to rigorously study the mineral composition of the Tomtor deposit to determine its commercial viability before committing to deeper long-term engagements.

Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing and Reducing China Dependency

The pursuit of rare earths is a matter of national economic security for India. These minerals are indispensable inputs for electric vehicle (EV) motors, advanced defense systems, and various clean energy technologies. While India possesses the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves—estimated at approximately 7.23 million metric tons—the country currently lacks the large-scale refining capacity required for high-purity separation and magnet production.

To bridge this gap, the Indian government has approved a significant ₹73 billion ($770.77 million) programme aimed at boosting domestic rare earth magnet production. The ultimate goal is to establish a robust manufacturing ecosystem, with domestic magnet production targeted for the 2029–30 period.

A Multi-Front Global Sourcing Strategy

The engagement with Russia is just one component of India’s multifaceted global mineral strategy. IREL is actively managing a diverse portfolio of international interests to ensure a steady supply of critical materials:

સાઇબેરિયાથી લઈને ઓસ્ટ્રેલિયા અને તેનાથી આગળ તેના સ્ત્રોતોમાં વિવિધતા લાવીને, ભારત એક સ્થિતિસ્થાપક સપ્લાય ચેઇન બનાવવાનું લક્ષ્ય રાખે છે જે ભૌગોલિક રાજકીય જોખમોને ઘટાડવાની સાથે હાઇ-ટેક, ગ્રીન ઇકોનોમી તરફના તેના સંક્રમણને ટેકો આપી શકે.

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