India Eyes Russian Siberian Deposit to Secure Critical Rare Earth Supplies
India is actively exploring strategic avenues to diversify its critical mineral supply chains, moving toward a significant potential partnership with Russia. State-owned miner IREL is reportedly in discussions with the Russian oil giant Rosneft to source rare earth samples from the massive Tomtor deposit in Siberia.
Strategic Move to Diversify from China
As global tensions rise and supply chains become increasingly volatile, India is making a concerted effort to reduce its heavy reliance on China for rare earth elements. These minerals are indispensable for high-tech industries, serving as vital inputs for electric vehicle (EV) motors, advanced defence systems, and clean energy technologies.
The current negotiations are being conducted through official government channels, with IREL—which operates under the Department of Atomic Energy—leading the charge. The proposed plan involves sourcing samples from the Tomtor deposit in Yakutia, which is recognized as one of the world’s largest undeveloped rare earth sites. These samples are expected to undergo processing in Russia before being shipped to India for detailed mineral composition analysis.
Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing Capabilities
While India holds the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves, estimated at approximately 7.23 million metric tons, the nation faces a significant gap in large-scale refining and high-purity separation capacity. To bridge this technological divide, the Indian government has approved a massive ₹73 billion ($770.77 million) programme aimed at boosting domestic rare earth magnet production.
The ultimate goal of these international sourcing efforts is to fuel India's domestic magnet manufacturing industry, which is currently being targeted for full-scale production by the 2029–30 period. By studying the composition of the Siberian deposits, Indian scientists and engineers can better prepare their refining infrastructure to handle specific mineral profiles.
A Global Search for Mineral Security
The talks with Rosneft represent just one piece of India’s broader "mineral diplomacy" strategy. IREL is simultaneously engaged in parallel discussions with firms in Japan and South Korea to leverage international expertise and technology.
India's search for supply security is truly global, with the state miner evaluating various mining prospects across:
- Argentina and Australia: For long-term stability in supply.
- Malawi: To tap into emerging African mining markets.
- Myanmar: Which has been explored in previous attempts to secure supplies.
By diversifying its sources across Russia, Africa, South America, and Oceania, India is building a multi-polar supply network designed to insulate its burgeoning green energy and defence sectors from geopolitical shocks.
Key Takeaways
- Strategic Sourcing: India, via IREL, is negotiating with Russia's Rosneft to study samples from the massive Tomtor deposit in Siberia to assess its mineral potential.
- Reducing Dependency: This move is a critical part of India's strategy to de-risk its supply chain from China and secure materials for EVs and defence.
- Massive Investment: Backed by a ₹73 billion government programme, India aims to build domestic refining and magnet production capacity by 2029–30.