New Delhi: The Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh confirmed a significant reserve of rare earth elements (REEs), totalling 8.52 million tonnes, in the Parliament on Wednesday, July 23.
Out of this, 7.23 million tonnes of REO are present in monazite-rich beach and inland sands across states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. An additional 1.29 million tonnes are found in hard rock formations in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, as per a report by IANS.
The minister, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, explained that these REEs are crucial for India’s strategic, defence, and clean energy goals. The exploration for these, is being led by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), while efforts to secure international resources are being channelled through platforms like the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
Singh also added that India’s initiatives abroad through KABIL, which has signed agreements in Argentina and is in talks with Australia, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic for securing key minerals like lithium and rare earths.
What Are Rare Earth Elements (REEs)?
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemically similar metals vital to high-tech and clean energy applications. From electric vehicles and wind turbines to defence systems and smartphones, REEs power technologies that define modern life. Despite the name, these elements are not exactly “rare” in nature but are seldom found in concentrated and economically viable forms.
India’s reserves, while substantial, require investment in processing and refining technology, which is currently dominated by other countries, to fully harness their strategic value.
10 Rare Earth Elements Found in India And What They Are
1. Cerium (Ce): One of the most abundant REEs, cerium is found in monazite and bastnaesite. It’s widely used in catalytic converters, glass polishing, and metal alloys.
2. Lanthanum (La): Extracted from monazite, lanthanum plays a key role in camera lenses, rechargeable batteries, and refining petroleum.
3. Neodymium (Nd): A powerful magnet component, neodymium is essential for electric vehicles, wind turbines, hard drives, and headphones.
4. Praseodymium (Pr) :Used alongside neodymium in high-strength magnets, it also finds application in aircraft engines and certain types of glass and ceramics.
5. Samarium (Sm): Found in monazite, samarium is crucial for samarium-cobalt magnets, which retain magnetism at high temperatures and are used in military applications.
6. Europium (Eu): Valued for its red and blue phosphorescence, europium is used in LED lights, fluorescent lamps, and television screens.
7. Gadolinium (Gd): With its unique magnetic properties, gadolinium is used in medical imaging (MRI contrast agents), nuclear reactors, and electronics.
8. Terbium (Tb): Terbium enhances magnet strength and is also used in green phosphors for display screens and in energy-efficient lighting.
9. Dysprosium (Dy): A vital component in permanent magnets for high-temperature operations, such as those in electric vehicles and industrial motors.
10. Yttrium (Y): Found in a variety of REE-bearing minerals, yttrium is used in ceramics, superconductors, laser systems, and cancer treatment.
