India Eyes Russian Siberian Deposits to Secure Rare Earth Supplies

India is intensifying its strategic efforts to diversify critical mineral supply chains by exploring rare earth samples from Russia’s massive Tomtor deposit. This move signals New Delhi's growing determination to reduce its heavy dependence on China for the minerals essential to future-ready technologies.

Strategic Engagement with Russia’s Tomtor Deposit

State-owned miner IREL, operating under the Department of Atomic Energy, is currently in talks with the Russian oil giant Rosneft to source mineral samples from the Tomtor deposit located in Yakutia, Siberia. The Tomtor site is recognized as one of the world’s largest undeveloped rare earth deposits, making it a high-value target for India’s mineral security.

According to reports, these discussions are being conducted through official government channels and remain confidential. The proposed process involves the samples being processed within Russia before being shipped to India for detailed analysis. India’s immediate objective is to study the specific mineral composition of the Tomtor deposit to determine the feasibility of a long-term, large-scale engagement.

Mitigating China Dependency and Boosting Domestic Capacity

The push for Russian minerals is part of a broader geopolitical strategy to mitigate supply chain risks associated with 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 country currently faces a significant bottleneck: it lacks the large-scale refining capacity required for high-purity separation. To address this, the Indian government has approved a ₹73 billion ($770.77 million) programme specifically designed to boost domestic rare earth magnet production. The nation is aiming to achieve large-scale domestic magnet production by the 2029–30 period.

A Global Multi-Pronged Sourcing Strategy

India is not relying on a single source but is instead pursuing a multi-country strategy to secure its mineral future. While the Siberian discussions are a major development, IREL is simultaneously evaluating mining prospects in several other nations, including:

על ידי פיזור האינטרסים שלה על פני גיאוגרפיות מגוונות ומעורבות של גופים ממשלתיים ופרטיים כאחד ברחבי העולם, הודו ממצבת את עצמה כדי לבנות אקוסיסטם עמיד ובעל יכולת הסתמכות עצמית עבור מינרלים קריטיים.

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