India is holding discussions with Brazil, Canada, France, and the Netherlands on partnerships to jointly explore, mine, process, and recycle critical minerals, as it steps up global efforts to secure essential raw materials, sources said. The talks are centered on lithium and rare earth elements, with India also seeking access to advanced mineral-processing technologies. The sources requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the negotiations.

India’s heavy dependence on China, which dominates global supplies and processing of many critical minerals, has heightened the urgency to diversify sourcing as the country pushes ahead with its energy transition and emission-reduction goals, industry experts noted. Mining projects typically take years to materialize, with exploration alone lasting five to seven years and often failing to result in commercially viable operations. India is looking to model these potential agreements on a critical minerals pact signed with Germany in January, covering exploration, processing, recycling, and the acquisition and development of mineral assets domestically, bilaterally, and in third countries.

According to one source, discussions are ongoing with France, the Netherlands, and Brazil, while a proposed agreement with Canada is under active review. The Ministry of Mines is spearheading these efforts. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit India in early March, during which agreements related to uranium, energy, minerals, and artificial intelligence may be signed. Canada’s Natural Resources Department, responding to queries, pointed to a January statement confirming plans to formalize cooperation on critical minerals in the coming weeks.

Brazil’s embassy in New Delhi, along with India’s Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of External Affairs, did not respond to requests for comment. The Dutch embassy offered no comment, while France’s embassy declined to respond. India has been actively pursuing critical minerals worldwide, already signing agreements with Argentina, Australia, and Japan, and holding talks with Peru and Chile on broader bilateral arrangements that include mineral cooperation.

These efforts coincide with recent discussions among G7 and other major economy finance ministers in Washington on reducing dependence on Chinese rare earth supplies. In 2023, India designated more than 20 minerals, including lithium, as critical to its energy transition and to meet growing industrial and infrastructure demand.