India Eyes Russian Siberian Deposit to Secure Critical Rare Earth Supply

India is intensifying its strategic efforts 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 minerals essential to high-tech manufacturing and green energy transitions.

Strategic Negotiations with Rosneft for Tomtor Samples

State-owned miner IREL, 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. The Tomtor site is recognized as one of the world’s largest undeveloped rare earth deposits, making it a high-value target for resource-hungry nations.

According to reports, these high-level discussions are being conducted through official government channels. The proposed process involves the mineral samples being processed within Russia before being shipped to India for detailed analysis. India’s immediate objective is to conduct a rigorous study of the mineral composition at Tomtor to determine the feasibility of a deeper, long-term commercial engagement.

Reducing Dependency on China and Boosting Domestic Capacity

The push for Siberian minerals is a direct response to the growing demand for rare earths in electric vehicle (EV) motors, advanced defence 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 country currently lacks the large-scale refining capacity required for high-purity separation.

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

A Multi-Pronged Global Sourcing Strategy

India is not limiting its search to Russia; instead, it is executing a diversified global procurement strategy to mitigate geopolitical risks. IREL is currently managing multiple parallel tracks to secure its mineral future:

பல்வேறு கண்டங்கள் மற்றும் அரசியல் சூழல்களில் தனது ஆர்வங்களைப் பரப்பிக் கொள்வதன் மூலம், வளர்ந்து வரும் தனது தொழில்நுட்பம் மற்றும் புதுப்பிக்கத்தக்க எரிசக்தித் துறைகளுக்கு ஆதரவளிக்கும் வகையிலான ஒரு மீள்திறன் கொண்ட விநியோகச் சங்கிலியை உருவாக்க இந்தியா இலக்கு வைத்துள்ளது.

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