India is intensifying its quest for critical minerals—key to its green energy ambitions—by sending geologists to Zambia to explore vast copper and cobalt deposits. Zambia has granted India access to 9,000 square km for exploration, with a three-year project timeline. Most of the analysis will be conducted in India, but field teams will regularly travel to Zambia to collect samples. If results are promising, India may seek a mining lease and invite private players to join. This move reflects broader efforts by New Delhi to secure mineral supplies across Africa, Australia, and Latin America amid rising import dependency. With copper and cobalt demand surging, India is racing to reduce its exposure to volatile global markets by ensuring a steady supply from resource-rich nations.
Reuters
