Bihar can now emerge as an important state not only for agriculture and historical heritage, but also for the future industrial development of the country. The presence of critical minerals in many districts of southern and south-eastern Bihar has attracted the attention of the state government. Among these, Gaya and Banka are the most discussed, because there is a possibility of finding such minerals which are in huge demand in the global market. Minerals like nickel, chromium, magnetite, rare earth elements, copper, zinc and lead are used in making electric vehicle (EV) batteries, solar energy, semiconductors, defense equipment and high-tech electronics. Today, India imports a large part of the requirement of these minerals from abroad, whereas China has a strong hold on this supply chain. In such a situation, if commercial mining of these resources starts in Bihar, it will not only strengthen the economy of the state but also the industrial and strategic strength of the country. This is the reason why the state government is now preparing to work rapidly with the central government to take forward the auction and mining process of these minerals.
The state government is now preparing to launch this project. Minister of Mines and Geology Department, Dr. Pramod Kumar will soon go to Delhi with a team of officials and meet the Union Minister and concerned officials. During this, there will be discussions regarding scientific survey, valuation, auction and commercial mining of mineral areas. The government believes that if all the processes are completed on time, then Bihar can be included among the major mineral producing states of the country in the coming years. This will also create new opportunities for investment, industry and employment.
In which districts have important minerals been found?
According to the Mines and Geology Department, the maximum potential has emerged in the hilly areas of South Bihar. Different types of important minerals have been identified in many districts including Gaya, Rohtas, Jamui, Jehanabad, Banka and Bhagalpur. These include nickel, chromium, magnetite, rare earth elements, glauconite, pyrite, copper, zinc and lead. These minerals are used in the manufacturing of batteries, steel, fertilizers, electronics, defense equipment and modern machines. If their commercial production starts then industrial activity can increase rapidly in Bihar.
India will benefit like this
In the matter of critical minerals, India is largely dependent on foreign countries. It imports about 80-90 percent of its minerals from outside. In such a situation, if the availability of these minerals increases in a state like Bihar, the country will get direct benefit from it. Currently, India imports most of the rare earth minerals from China. Dependence on it may reduce in the coming time. Statistics show that India buys rare earth minerals worth about Rs 300 crore from China every year. If the production of these critical minerals increases in the country then imports will also reduce. This will reduce the import bill and will also strengthen the country’s economy. However, critical minerals are present not only in Bihar, but also in many other states of the country. They have good availability especially in coastal areas.
Rare earth also in these states of India
Rare earth minerals in India are mainly found in the beach sand of the coast and in some interior mineral areas. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are considered the most important states in this matter. Chavara area of Kollam district of Kerala is known for minerals like monazite, ilmenite, rutile and zircon. Monazite is also found in good quantities on Tirunelveli and Tuticorin coast of Tamil Nadu, from which rare earth elements like neodymium and praseodymium can be extracted. Heavy minerals are also found on Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam coast of Andhra Pradesh. In Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Karnataka, continuous survey is being done regarding the possibilities of such minerals.
What are critical minerals?
Critical minerals are essential minerals that are used in making electric vehicles, mobile phones, computers, batteries, solar panels, defense equipment, space technology, semiconductors and other modern electronic products. With the increasing use of green energy and digital technology, their demand is continuously increasing. This is the reason why many countries of the world are emphasizing on finding new sources of these minerals and strengthening their supply chains.
Identification of critical minerals in Bihar is still in the initial stage and it will take time for commercial mining to start. However, the data received so far shows that if the process of survey, auction and mining is completed on time, then many districts of South Bihar including Gaya and Banka can play an important role in the mineral economy of the country. India is already working on a strategy to increase domestic sources of critical minerals and new reserves are being discovered in different states. In such a situation, Bihar’s contribution will not be limited to the state alone, but it can also play a big role in reducing the country’s import dependence, increasing industrial production and strengthening the domestic availability of strategic minerals.
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