Japan, India Discuss Rare Earth Exploration Partnership

Japan is in discussions with India to jointly explore rare earth mineral deposits in Rajasthan, aiming to reduce its dependence on China for critical materials used in advanced manufacturing. The talks follow the discovery of major rare earth oxide reserves in Rajasthan and Gujarat, with Tokyo planning to send a team of experts to assess the sites. The collaboration builds on a preliminary critical minerals agreement signed between the two countries last year.

Under the proposed partnership, Japan may provide advanced extraction technology and financial support in exchange for a stable supply of rare earth materials. These hard rock deposits require specialised mining techniques that India currently lacks, making Japanese expertise crucial. Both countries are also seeking to strengthen domestic processing capabilities to produce high-purity rare earth elements needed for industries such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defence manufacturing.

The discussions come amid rising geopolitical tensions and supply chain risks after China restricted exports of certain dual-use materials to Japanese entities. Alongside the India project, Japan is also exploring cooperation with Indian mining firms to develop lithium, copper, and cobalt resources in Africa, as part of broader efforts to diversify global critical mineral supply chains.

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