Coal India Ltd is evaluating bauxite assets in Ghana and other African countries as the state-run miner expands its scope into critical and strategic minerals, Reuters reported, quoting two persons familiar with the matter.
The company is setting up its first overseas trading office in Singapore, and it has applied to Singapore authorities to register the office, which will support mineral trading and potential overseas asset acquisitions, the sources said.
The miner is also exploring rare earth opportunities in Africa, while focusing on lithium assets in Chile and evaluating opportunities in Canada and Australia. The projects remain at a preliminary stage, Reuters said.
Coal India is diversifying beyond coal as India seeks to secure overseas supplies of critical minerals. The company recently won an iron ore block in Odisha, marking its entry into iron ore mining.
Coal India did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.
Indian state-owned companies are seeking overseas critical mineral assets to strengthen supply security for resources needed in clean energy and manufacturing. Reuters reported on 17 August that Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) expects to commence lithium production in Argentina within four to five years. National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) is also exploring copper and other critical-mineral opportunities in Argentina.
Reuters said that Coal India is also focusing on lithium opportunities in Chile and evaluating critical mineral assets in Canada and Australia. All of these projects are at a preliminary stage, the news agency reported. The company is considering the acquisition of a unit of Canada's Wealth Minerals, which holds lithium assets in Chile, Reuters reported separately last week.
Expanding beyond coal
Coal India won an iron ore block in Odisha through a competitive auction, marking its entry into iron ore mining.
Indian state-run companies are seeking to secure overseas critical mineral resources to support its clean-energy and manufacturing ambitions.
Though these overseas efforts remain limited, Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KBIL) had signed an agreement covering five lithium blocks in Argentina in 2024 and last week, Reuters reported that production from the assets could begin within four to five years.
