Japan is in discussions with India to jointly explore rare earth deposits in the western state of Rajasthan, as Tokyo moves to reduce its reliance on China for critical minerals used in advanced manufacturing, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The talks follow a preliminary agreement on critical minerals signed last year between the two countries. Japan is now considering sending a team of experts to assess newly identified deposits in Rajasthan, the sources said, noting that the timeline for the visit has not yet been finalised.
India’s Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy said last month that hard rock deposits containing an estimated 1.29 million metric tonnes of rare earth oxides had been identified in Rajasthan and neighbouring Gujarat.
Under the proposed collaboration, Japan is expected to offer extraction technology and financial support in exchange for stable access to supplies. Hard rock rare earth deposits require specialised processing techniques that India currently lacks at scale, making foreign expertise crucial for development.
Officials from India’s Ministry of Mines and the Japanese embassy did not respond to requests for comment. However, Naoki Kobayashi, a deputy director at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, confirmed that Tokyo is actively evaluating global mining opportunities to diversify supply chains, while denying any specific agreements related to Rajasthan.
The push comes as both nations seek to strengthen domestic capabilities in refining rare earth elements to high-purity levels—an area currently dominated by China. These materials are essential for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, defence systems and advanced electronics.
Tensions between Japan and China have added urgency to diversification efforts. Beijing recently imposed export restrictions on dual-use materials to several Japanese entities, limiting access to certain rare earth elements and other critical minerals.
Beyond India, Japan is also exploring partnerships with Indian firms to source lithium, copper and cobalt in Africa, reflecting a broader strategy to secure resilient supply chains amid rising geopolitical competition over critical resources.
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