China’s Dominance in Global Mineral Refining and Processing: Implications for India

China’s influence in the critical minerals sector extends well beyond mining as it controls around 90% of rare earth element refining and processing, with significant shares in lithium and cobalt refining as well. This dominance gives China considerable power over the availability and pricing of materials crucial for various industries like batteries, electric motors, and electronics. To address the challenge, India has launched the National Critical Mineral Mission to secure raw materials like coking coal, copper, and lithium. However, recent disputes in Kenya and operational issues in Mozambique highlight the limitations of merely owning foreign mines as it doesn’t guarantee…