Critical mineral hunt: Centre takes charge as states falter

Exploration agencies had stayed away even in the few states that had kicked off auctions

- Subhash Narayan

The Union government has taken up the task of attracting explorers for critical minerals, after a clutch of states sitting on valuable blocks failed to entice them.

From now, the Centre will notify mineral blocks and conduct auctions of exploration licences (ELs), the mines ministry said late on Tuesday, amping up efforts to trace resources vital to a range of industries from fibre optics to pharmaceuticals.

This comes after only six out of 14 states hosting key minerals began the auction process for 12 blocks. Even where the process was started, exploration agencies stayed away, given the lack of coordination among states.

"Upon successful completion of the auction, the central government shall intimate details of the preferred bidder in the auction to the state government and the state government shall grant exploration licence for such area to such preferred bidder in accordance with rule," the mines ministry said.