Strategic approach in NE mineral extraction

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) identifying significant and critical mineral deposits, including Rare Earth Elements (REE) in the Northeast states, places the region as a crucial domestic alternative to the import of such minerals. The region being ecologically fragile, the extraction and processing of these strategic minerals will require a cautious approach. The alarming rise in landslides that frequently disrupt railway and road connectivity in the region is a pointer to the challenge of diversion of forest for infrastructure and mineral extraction. As the region is a major carbon sink, proposed extraction of the strategic minerals has amplified the potential of carbon credit markets for indigenous communities in the region, provided they are empowered and enabled to tap the potential. The GSI Handbook titled "Geological Potential of Northeast India: A Hidden Trove of Mineral Prospects Beneath a Majestic Landscape" charts the multi-year exploration roadmap beginning from the field season in the current financial year to convert its geo-scientific knowledge into economically viable mineral blocks by undertaking systematic exploration, critical mineral targeting, and regional integration of baseline geo-science datasets. The planned activities outlined in the roadmap include systematic exploration of graphite-vanadium belts in Arunachal Pradesh; detailed mapping of REE-enriched alkaline and carbonatite complexes (rare igneous rock formations mostly of carbonate minerals such as dolomite and calcite) in Assam and Meghalaya; pilot studies on iron-rich soils and critical minerals concentrated in riverbeds in Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura; and expanded mapping in less-explored terrains of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram using remote sensing and aero-geophysical data. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal dubbing the development of China imposing restrictions on exports of RRE disrupting the global supply chain and casting a shadow over India's automotive industry as a "global wake-up call" puts into perspective the strategic significance of GSI's discovery of critical mineral and RRE deposits in the region. China controls over 90% of the global supply of rare earth magnets, which are indispensable in electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and electronic goods. It is in strategic interest that India gradually reduce its dependence on China for the supply of rare earth magnets by increasing domestic production and exploring alternative global suppliers to protect its industries from supply shocks. GSI claims that the region's unique geology offers favourable settings for a range of critical minerals. Scientific establishment of Arunachal Pradesh as the country's most significant domestic source of natural flake graphite The GSP exploration confirming a resource of over 17.89 million tonnes of graphite with significant grades suitable for lithium-ion batteries of electric vehicles strategically positions the border state and region in India's efforts to decarbonise the transport sector by rolling out more EVs on the road. Currently, range anxiety arising from inadequate charging infrastructure and high upfront cost due to the import of lithium-ion batteries has been posing hurdles in achieving the goals of replacing the fossil fuel vehicles with EVs. Mere improvement of the charging ecosystem in the cities and along the highways is going to scale up EV sales if the upfront cost remains high on account of reliance on imports for lithium-ion batteries. There is no escape from the hard reality that mining of minerals has far greater impact than geological exploration in scale and intensity, which calls for prioritising sustainable mining over profit-dominated extraction. Ecological losses on account of mining are irreversible, and cultural and livelihood losses due to displacement of people from mining sitesoften cannot adequately be compensated. Strict adherence to mining protocols, maintaining the highest standards in environmental impact assessment, and subjecting mining proposals to rigorous scientific scrutiny must be ensured at any cost. Ecological catastrophes like the Baghjan oil and gas well blowout and explosion are grim reminders about the ecological fragility of the region and the consequences of slack in oversight mechanisms related to safety standards. The region being located in a high seismic zone, safety standards must be beyond the conventional norms, and that is followed in geographic areas marked by lesser seismic vulnerability. Areas in Assam and neighbouring states with rich and proven deposits of strategic and critical minerals are being protected under the Sixth Schedule and other constitutional safeguards; land acquisition for mining is often complicated. Empowering the indigenous communities who enjoy powers of self-rule in certain subjects of governance under constitutional provisions to understand the importance of critical minerals for the nation's strategic priorities will make land acquisition easier. Transparency in sharing of benefits from mining of minerals from their land and ensuring adequate compensation for displacement and loss of livelihood will play a crucial role in the sustainability of proposed mining and new exploration studies. State governments and autonomous councils under the Sixth Schedule will be required to play the crucial role of not just facilitator of mining activities but also ensuring that all safeguards-environmental, social, and economic-are put in place so that the region can leverage its strategic advantage.