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India Targets 5,000 Tonnes of Rare Earth Magnets by 2030 for Clean Energy Push

India is fast-tracking efforts to boost domestic production of rare earth permanent magnets, aiming for a capacity of 5,000 tonnes by 2030 to meet rising demand. A pilot project is underway and a plant in Visakhapatnam with 500-tonne capacity is now operational, with plans for phased expansion. Simultaneously, exploration for critical minerals like lithium is progressing in Rajasthan's Degana and Jammu & Kashmir's Reasi district. The government emphasizes these elements are vital for electric vehicles, renewable energy, defence, and other high-tech sectors, and is enabling private sector participation in exploration.

Key Points: India to Scale Rare Earth Magnet Production to 5,000T by 2030

  • Target 5,000T magnet capacity by 2030
  • Pilot project & 500T plant operational
  • Lithium exploration in Rajasthan & J&K
  • Critical for EVs & clean energy
  • Private sector participation opened
2 min read

India to scale up rare earth magnet production to 5,000 tonnes by 2030

India accelerates domestic rare earth magnet & lithium exploration, targeting 5,000-tonne magnet capacity by 2030 for EVs, defence, and clean energy.

"Lithium and rare earth elements are critical for sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics, defence, aerospace, and space applications. - Dr. Jitendra Singh"

New Delhi, March 25

India has accelerated efforts to expand domestic production of rare earth permanent magnets and exploration of critical minerals such as lithium, targeting production capacity of 5,000 tonnes by 2030, the government said on Wednesday.

The country's current requirement of rare earth permanent magnets at about 4,000 tonnes is projected to rise to nearly 8,000 tonnes by 2030, highlighting the need for rapid expansion of domestic capabilities, MoS, Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

A pilot project on neodymium‑iron‑boron permanent magnets has been launched and a samarium‑cobalt magnet plant at Visakhapatnam has been made operational with an initial production capacity of 500 tonnes per year.

This capacity will be scaled up to 2,000 tonnes in the next phase and further to 5,000 tonnes by 2030, the Department of Atomic Energy said in a statement.

Regarding lithium reserves in Rajasthan's Degana, the minister said that preliminary survey activities are underway, and further exploration is expected to begin soon, adding similar efforts are in progress in Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir.

Dr Singh said that lithium and rare earth elements are critical for sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics, defence, aerospace, and space applications, and will play an important role in supporting clean energy transition as well as emerging technologies requiring reliable energy systems.

The government is working in close coordination across ministries to fast-track exploration and development of critical minerals, the minister said.

Policy measures, including provisions under the Atomic Energy (Amendment) framework, have opened exploration of several critical minerals to private sector participation, with safeguards in place for strategic resources such as uranium.

He also mentioned rare earth corridors being recently announced in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala to strengthen the domestic ecosystem for processing and value addition.

Rare earth elements are found both in beach sand minerals and rock formations, and their exploration requires different approaches depending on geological conditions. Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Jharkhand, have significant deposits of rock-based minerals which are relatively more complex to explore, the minister said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone working in the renewable energy sector, this news is very encouraging. Rare earth magnets are the backbone of wind turbines and high-efficiency motors. Scaling up domestic production will make our green energy transition more resilient and cost-effective in the long run.
P
Priya S
Good initiative, but I hope the environmental impact of mining in places like Rajasthan and J&K is thoroughly assessed. We cannot trade one problem for another. Sustainable and responsible mining must be the priority, not just speed.
V
Vikram M
The mention of private sector participation is key. Government projects alone can be slow. With the right policy framework, Indian startups and companies can innovate faster in extraction and processing tech. Make in India getting a real boost! 💪
R
Rohit P
Visakhapatnam plant already operational? That's great news! Creating these 'rare earth corridors' in South India will generate so many skilled jobs. Hope the local communities benefit from the development and not just see their resources taken away.
M
Michael C
The geopolitical angle here is significant. Control over critical minerals is the new oil. India building its own supply chain for defense and space applications is a non-negotiable step towards true strategic autonomy. A very forward-looking policy.
K
Kavya N

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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