India's largest baryte reserve halved, could be exhausted in a decade: Study

NDIA'S largest baryte deposit at Mangampet in Andhra Pradesh has seen its reserves fall sharply from about 49 million tonne in 2015 to under 23 million tonne in 2024, recording a staggering depletion of more than half in less than 10 years.

- USHA PERI @Visakhapatnam

A study by the Centre for Domestic Economy Policy Research (C-DEP) titled, 'Analysis of the Impact of Rapid Depletion of Baryte Reserves on Energy Security,' warns that the trend, fuelled mainly by exports, could undermine the country's long-term energy security.

Baryte is a critical and non-substitutable mineral used in oil and gas exploration, particularly for preparing drilling muds that stabilise boreholes and prevent blowouts. Its high density, chemical stability and cost-effectiveness make it indispensable for drilling operations. The study also points out that baryte has strategic defence applications, including radiation shielding, radar systems and missile components, further underlining its importance.

India's baryte reserves are highly concentrated, with around 95 per cent located at a single deposit in Mangampet in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Managed by the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC), Mangampet is one of the largest baryte deposits in the world. However, proven reserves at the mine have declined sharply from about 49 million tonne in 2015 to less than 23 million tonne in 2024, marking a more than 53 pc decline in under a decade.