India, France deepen critical minerals partnership, hold inaugural joint working group meeting in Delhi

India and France have deepened their partnership in the critical minerals sector with the inaugural meeting of the India-France Joint Working Group on Critical Minerals in New Delhi, highlighting growing efforts by both countries to secure resilient supply chains for resources vital to clean energy, advanced manufacturing and strategic industries.

The meeting, held on July 6, was co-chaired by Benjamin Gallezot, France's Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals and Metals Supplies, and Kadam Sandeep Vasant, Joint Secretary overseeing the National Critical Mineral Mission at India's Ministry of Mines.

According to a statement issued by the French Embassy, discussions focused on expanding bilateral cooperation across the exploration, processing and recycling of critical minerals and rare earth elements.

More from World

The two sides also examined ways to build sustainable and diversified supply chains at a time when global demand for strategic resources is rising and geopolitical competition for access to them is intensifying.

Officials identified several areas of mutual interest and explored the possibility of undertaking joint projects not only in India and France but also in third countries endowed with significant mineral reserves.

The meeting brought together experts from France's Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI), who agreed to strengthen scientific cooperation across the critical minerals value chain. Areas of collaboration under consideration include resource mapping, exploration, extraction, processing and recycling.

During a two-day visit to New Delhi, Gallezot also met Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor to discuss the strategic dimensions of critical mineral security.

He further engaged with representatives of Indian industry at a session organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), highlighting opportunities for greater commercial and technological collaboration between companies from both countries.

The engagement follows the signing of the France-India Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in Critical Minerals during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to India in February.

The declaration laid the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in mineral exploration, mining, research and innovation, supply chain diversification and the development of circular economy practices, including the recycling of strategic minerals.

The discussions reflect increasing recognition in both countries of the importance of securing access to critical resources such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and rare earth elements. These minerals are essential for the production of batteries, electric vehicles, semiconductors, renewable energy systems and defence technologies.

India has intensified efforts to reduce dependence on imported critical minerals through the National Critical Mineral Mission, which aims to boost domestic exploration, overseas mineral partnerships and processing capabilities. New Delhi has also pursued mineral cooperation agreements with a number of countries as part of its broader strategy to secure raw materials needed for its energy transition and manufacturing goals.

France, for its part, established the Interministerial Delegation for the Supply of Strategic Minerals and Metals in 2022 to coordinate efforts to secure access to strategic resources and strengthen industrial resilience. The body supports France's objectives in energy transition, industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy.

The launch of the Joint Working Group highlights the expanding strategic scope of India-France relations, which now extend beyond traditional areas such as defence and civil nuclear cooperation to include emerging technologies, supply chain resilience and energy security.

As competition for critical minerals grows worldwide, both countries are positioning their partnership as a key pillar of their long-term economic and industrial strategies.

With inputs from agencies