India to Set Up 4 Critical Mineral Parks for Lithium, Nickel in Gujarat, Maharashtra, AP, Odisha

The Indian government is planning to establish four dedicated critical minerals processing parks across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to accelerate domestic value addition for battery materials, with an initial focus on lithium and nickel, Mines Secretary Keshav Chandra told the Economic Times on Thursday.

Each park will serve as an element-specific ecosystem, with facilities specialising in critical minerals such as lithium and nickel, which are prioritised for the battery sector. Downstream processing for other critical minerals will be developed later, Chandra said.

The Economic Times reported that the government is fast-tracking the development of parks designated for lithium and nickel.

Each park will integrate the entire value chain, from processing to downstream industries, for its designated element.

The initiative is part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), approved by the Union Cabinet in January 2025, with a total outlay of Rs 34,300 crore (approximately $3.8 billion) over seven years to achieve self-reliance and accelerate India’s green energy transition.

The government has allocated Rs 16,300 crore for NCMM, while public sector enterprises are expected to provide the remaining funds to support critical mineral exploration domestically and abroad.

Additionally, Rs 500 crore has been allocated under NCMM to encourage the establishment of mineral processing parks utilising existing infrastructure, with recycling expected to be a key component.