MP CM says India’s dependency on China for Rare Earth Elements to end

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav asserted on Tuesday that the discovery of a rich deposit of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in the Singrauli district, Madhya Pradesh, will help India to do away with the dependence on countries like China, and India will emerge as a leading nation in global competition.

The CM said that MP is poised to become a hub for critical minerals.

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Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, had recently informed Parliament that this is the first time such a massive deposit of rare earth elements has been found in India. This achievement will prove a milestone in making India self-reliant in green energy, electronics, and defence technologies.

CM Dr Yadav said that Rare Earth Elements are considered the foundation of modern technology, and until now, India has been dependent on China and other countries for these minerals.

He emphasised that the discovery in Singrauli will free India from this import dependency and place it at the forefront of global competition. In the coming years, this discovery will not only advance the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative but also accelerate industrial development.

According to state government officials, a study by Coal India Limited found promising concentrations of REEs (such as Scandium, Yttrium) in the coal mines and rocks of Singrauli. The average concentration is estimated at 250 ppm in coal and around 400 ppm in non-coal strata. The official announcement of this discovery was made in July 2025. Experts believe that in the future, coal ash and overburden could also serve as secondary sources of critical minerals.

The CM said that, given the discovery of Rare Earth Elements, the state government is now working on developing the necessary infrastructure for their processing, research, and exploration. A delegation from the Mineral Resources Department recently visited the Bhopal unit of Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) to discuss potential collaboration. The department is also exploring the possibility of establishing a Center of Excellence for Rare Earth Elements to provide a world-class platform for research, training, and industry.

Dr Yadav noted that with the newfound treasure in the Singrauli district, India will become self-reliant in green energy, electric vehicles, and high-tech industries. In the coming years, Madhya Pradesh will not only be known as the energy capital but also as the capital of critical minerals. Dependence on China will end, and India will establish itself as a powerful nation on the global stage.

Rare Earth Elements naturally occur in several mineral structures, including Bastnaesite, Xenotime, Loparite, and Monazite. Coastal sands and weathered granite soils in India are also considered rich in these elements.