India is intensifying its search for African critical minerals, Mines Secretary VL Kantha Rao announced in March. The minister revealed the nation’s exploration focus on African nations such as Zambia, Namibia, Congo, Ghana, and Mozambique for these critical resources.
Critical minerals, notably lithium and cobalt, are needed for technology, manufacturing, and various industries.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo hosts over 70% of the world’s cobalt production, while Namibia leads in uranium ore exports. Mozambique and Zimbabwe rank respectively as the third-largest producers of graphite and chromium ore. Zambia and South Africa are key players in copper and platinum group metal (PGM) reserves production. The continent also boasts 5% of the world’s total lithium reserves.
