Does India have deposits of rare earth minerals ore?
China holds 38% of the world’s rare earth mineral reserves but it produces 80% of the world’s rare earths and controls 95% of the global supply. What China has done in the past to reach this stage or doing now may be a matter of concern for Indian government but this is what happens where there is a monopoly business.
Gallium is one such rare earth mineral which doesn't have its own distinct ore. So, Indian cannot go to an African or South American country to get Gallium ore. Instead, Gallium is typically found as a trace element in other ores like Bauxite (Aluminium ore) and zinc ores. It's usually extracted as a by-product during the processing of these ores, particularly when producing Aluminium from Bauxite via the Bayer process. China monopolize the supply of Gallium (critical in making advanced Gallium Nitride ‘GaN’ ASEA radars) that’s the by-product of Aluminium, because China produces more than 75% of Aluminium in the world, and it lacks economic sense for small producers of Aluminium to even think of it. Australia hold maximum Bauxite mines but they produce Aluminium only that much what is required there. They are happy to export excess Bauxite ore to China.
India is second largest producer of Aluminium but way behind China. Thus India has the best chance to develop rare earth mineral Gallium production. To do this India need to ask Aluminium and Zinc producers like Hindalco, Nalco and Hindustan Zinc Ltd to prioritise recovery of Gallium during the manufacturing process. Indian government may also need to give PLI (production linked incentive) for massive expansion of Aluminium and Zinc manufacturing in India. There is no shortage of Bauxite and Zinc ore deposits in India. It only requires a massive production expansion just like China has done over last three decades.
The opposition congress party controls a bunch of andolan-jivi and dharna-jivi who are leftist, communist and librandµ and they raise environment issues against all economic projects. Due to their prolong agitations, supported and funded by external sources like George Soros, CIA linked NGOs, sensitive border road and infrastructure projects were stalled during UPA 2.0 era. This is the biggest political challenge for India to achieve self-reliance on rare earth minerals.
Italian origin congress leadership is blocking India’s progress since 2008 secret agreement it signed with a neighbouring country using environment as a weapon
P.S. -This post is neither spam nor plagiarised material and follows Quora policy
Picture source: Google / Respective rightful owner
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