What is the purpose of India's request for rare earth samples from Rosneft's Tomtor deposit in Siberia?

India, through state-backed miner IREL, is seeking rare earth samples from Rosneft's Tomtor deposit in Siberia to study the mineral composition of the deposit before considering deeper engagement; the samples would be processed in Russia and then shipped to India as part of New Delhi's effort to secure critical mineral supplies and reduce dependence on China.

Why is India pursuing rare earth resources globally despite having the world's third-largest reserves?

Although India holds an estimated 7.23 million metric tons of rare earth reserves—the world's third-largest—it lacks commercial-scale facilities to refine and separate the full range of rare earth elements to high purity levels, and does not currently produce rare earth magnets domestically; this gap drives its global outreach, including talks with Rosneft, Japanese and South Korean firms, and exploration in Argentina, Australia, Malawi, and Myanmar.

India seeks rare earth samples from Rosneft-owned Siberian deposit, source says

Jun 16, 2026

Indian miner IREL is negotiating with Rosneft to source rare earth samples from the Siberian Tomtor deposit to reduce reliance on China. The move supports New Delhi's strategy to secure critical mineral supplies for domestic manufacturing despite existing sanctions.

reuters

2026-06-16

India seeks rare earth samples from Rosneft-owned Siberian deposit, source says

India seeks rare earth samples from Rosneft-owned Siberian deposit, source says

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