National Mineral Mission: Reddy Targets Domestic EV Supply Chains to Offset Import Risks
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy emphasizes indigenous manufacturing and mineral security to insulate the EV sector from global supply shocks. A new 34,000 crore initiative aims to secure critical resources like lithium and cobalt.
Key takeaways
- The 34,000 crore National Critical Mineral Mission targets self-sufficiency in lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
- KETO Motors launched its first commercial electric bus in Hyderabad with federal backing.
- TGSRTC will add 2,200 electric buses to its fleet by December 2027 under the PM eDrive scheme.
- India is actively acquiring overseas mining blocks to secure materials for the semiconductor and defense sectors.
Strategic Shifts in Transportation and Mineral Security
In a move to bolster India's energy autonomy, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy recently marked a milestone in domestic manufacturing by flagging off KETO Motors' inaugural commercial electric bus in Hyderabad. The event, attended by TGSRTC Managing Director Y. Nagi Reddy and KETO Motors Director Venkatesh Challa, highlighted the federal government's drive to replace internal combustion engines with home-grown electric technology.
The Critical Mineral Mission
Addressing the vulnerabilities of the current supply chain, Minister Reddy referenced Operation Sindoor and a subsequent eight-month supply disruption from China as a catalyst for reform. To mitigate these risks, the government launched the National Critical Mineral Mission, backed by a 34,000 crore investment. This strategy positions minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper as assets with strategic value equal to oil.
Key elements of this mineral strategy include:
- Securing mining blocks in foreign territories for domestic processing.
- Providing comprehensive Union government support for the electric vehicle (EV) industry.
- Supporting sectors reliant on these materials, including semiconductors, defense, AI, and solar energy.
Expanding Public Transit Infrastructure
The push for electrification extends to the public sector, where TGSRTC Vice-Chairman Y. Nagi Reddy outlined plans to combat urban congestion through fleet modernization. Under the PM eDrive scheme, the corporation expects to integrate 800 new electric buses by December 2026, followed by an additional 1,400 units by December 2027. These acquisitions, managed under a gross cost contract model, signal a rapid phase-out of traditional diesel vehicles in favor of sustainable transit solutions.
Source: The Hindu — National
Related stories
YSRCP Legislator and Son Detained After Alleged Assault on Dalit Household
Rao Positions BJP as Telangana’s Third Way During Baltimore Address
Unscheduled Monsoon Surge Inundates Hyderabad Districts on August 2
