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Rare Earth Element (REE) mining
July 12 , 2025
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- As per the CareEdge Report 2025, India holds 8 per cent of the world’s Rare Earth Element (REE) Reserves.
- India has recognised 130 deposits as of the 2023 Indian Minerals Yearbook
- India has the third-largest REE reserves in the world, but it contributes less than 1 % of global REE mining.
- It has prompted the Government to launch the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to build India’s self-reliance in the mineral sector.
- As per the International Energy Agency, China holds 49% of the world's total reserves, mining 69% of REEs, and has a 90% share of REE refining.
- India’s REE reserves are mostly found in the monazite sands (which contain thorium).
- Coastal states have the rarest earth deposits, namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.
- Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL), a Mini Ratna Company, is the only entity processing monazite to produce Rare-earth (RE) compounds.
- Mining is further restricted by Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.
- The REE contains Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE) while the Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE) are not available in extractable quantities.
- The importance of REEs extends across a range of sectors such as clean energy technologies, the automotive sector, and defence systems.
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