India looking at Africa for critical minerals, says Mines secretary: PTI

VL Kantha Rao, Mines Secretary said that India is looking at Africa for minerals including cobalt and other critical minerals, PTI reported.

The country is still engaging with Australia for lithium blocks, he said. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function, Rao said, "In Africa, we are looking at Zambia, Namibia, Congo, Ghana and Mozambique for critical minerals." Critical minerals are important for technology, manufacturing and other industries, PTI noted. 

Rao further said that rules for the auction of offshore mineral blocks are being readied and that 10 offshore blocks will be put on sale. The auction of offshore blocks, he said, would take place after the elections, PTI reported. 

Rao further noted that the lithium block in J&K that was out on sale in the first round, would now be auctioned only in the third tranche, as it received merely two bids. 

The government had this month, launched the third tranche of auction of critical and strategic minerals. Seven critical mineral blocks have been put up for sale in the third round. The centre has launched the auction of 38 critical and strategic minerals to date, PTI reported.