India says critical minerals must not become a new source of inequality

Unitednations,UPDATED: Jul 15, 2026 19:24 IST

India has said critical energy transition minerals should drive sustainable development and not become another source of inequality, while stressing that national ownership and resource sovereignty must remain central to global cooperation. Addressing a UN high-level meeting, India said international cooperation should help developing countries build stronger roles across global value chains.

India also asked the United Nations to support member states through stronger technical cooperation, knowledge-sharing and existing institutional arrangements, while avoiding any duplication of mandates. It said critical minerals are vital not only for the clean energy transition but also for industrial growth, jobs and domestic manufacturing in developing countries.

Speaking at the plenary segment of the High-Level Meeting on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish Pravathaneni, said, "Critical minerals are indispensable for the clean energy transition, but for many developing countries, they are also an opportunity to accelerate industrialisation, create quality employment and strengthen domestic manufacturing."

He added, " cooperation must therefore enable countries to move towards greater value addition and resilient participation across global value chains." He said partnerships must support mutually beneficial investment, technology sharing and skill-building so that developing nations can expand their processing, refining and manufacturing sectors.

"Critical energy transition minerals should become an engine for sustainable development, not another source of inequality," Pravathaneni said. He added that India is ready to work with global partners to build resilient, transparent and diverse supply chains that support shared prosperity and ensure a fair distribution of the benefits of the transition.

Pravathaneni said that, as a rapidly growing renewable energy market, India is securing its critical mineral supply chains through the Critical Mineral Mission and through international partnerships via Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL). KABIL is a joint venture company formed by the Government of India to ensure the country's mineral security and supply-side assurance of critical and strategic minerals.

He also said India's active role in the UN Secretary-General's Initiative on Critical Energy Transition Minerals reflects its commitment to global cooperation for a secure, sustainable and fair energy transition, while reiterating that such cooperation must strengthen development and respect national control over resources.

With PTI Inputs

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