Does North-East hold key to India’s clean energy future? Over 70 million tonnes of untapped minerals and rare earths in region that can drive strategic, economic, and clean energy goals

GUWAHATI: India’s North-East — at the southern edge of the Himalayas, in the shadow of China — may be sitting on top of a vast, untapped treasure trove of minerals and rare earth elements (REE), estimated to be in excess of 70 million tonnes.The finding — in a recent report by Geological Survey of India (GSI), which carried out explorations — may hold immense promise for India’s clean energy ambitions, digital infrastructure and defence manufacturing. It also holds the potential of catapulting the North-East into a regional economic powerhouse.Economics & geopoliticsAccording to the GSI report, five of the North-Eastern states — Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland — are rich in REE and mineral reserves, including of graphite, vanadium, lithium and cobalt, which are crucial for the manufacture of batteries, semiconductors and advanced alloys.This isn’t just economic opportunity; it’s a geopolitical pivot, say experts. Currently, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia and Chile lead global critical mineral production, whereas China dominates REE refining. If the North-East emerges as a mineral and REE hotspot, India would be positioned as a strategic counterweight, with supply chains diversified and domestic resilience bolstered amid shifting global dynamics.

However, some warn against excess optimism. “The beneficiation (increasing concentration of valuable minerals within an ore) of these minerals... is not only tricky but will not be economically viable,” says Dhiraj Banerjee, professor emeritus of Delhi University’s geology department. “The cost will be several times more than it would take to import.”

Arunachal’s rich reservesGSI has flagged what could become India’s first lithium brine prospect in Arunachal Pradesh, right at China’s doorsteps, along with Nagaland and Assam.Lithium brine refers to the salty underground water containing dissolved lithium salts that is used as a source to extract lithium, considered the holy grail for batteries. The lithium brine discovery may not immediately shake global markets, but it signals a strategic shift with long-term implications for supply chains, pricing dynamics, and geopolitical leverage, having the potential to challenge the dominance of the “Lithium Triangle” (Chile, Argentina, Bolivia) and Australia’s hard rock mines.“These occurrences merit further exploration, especially given India’s dependency on lithium imports,” GSI notes in its report.Among the standout discoveries are 13.8 million tonnes of vanadium reserves in Arunachal Pradesh, marking India’s first major find of this alloying element, and graphite deposits exceeding 17.9 million tonnes, suitable for lithium-ion battery production. REE anomalies (deviations in the concentration of certain REEs) have been identified across Arunachal, Assam and Meghalaya, with Assam alone holding 28.6 million tonnes.“Almost every district in the state has minerals deposits,” says Tassar Talar, Arunachal’s geology and mining department director. “Wherever you go, there are mineral deposits. We have given prospecting licences to more than 20 mining companies, but mining is yet to start.” He feels the state could be “India’s richest state” once all the Meghalaya Meghalaya minerals are extracted.Arunachal has also emerged as India’s most significant domestic source of natural flake graphite, with 24.8 million tonnes of it confirmed.

These deposits are not just abundant — they’re highquality, making them ideal for lithiumion battery anodes, lubricants, and advanced composites.Co-occurring with graphite is vanadium, a critical alloying element used in aerospace and vanadium redox flow batteries — a scalable solution for grid-level energy storage.In Pakke Kessang district, near the Pakke Tiger Reserve, lies Lodoso, a biodi- Manipur versity hotspot and mineral powerhouse.

Beneath its subtropical forests, GSI has delineated 2.2 million tonnes of REEs, including significant concentrations of neodymium — vital for permanent magnets in EVs and wind turbines.REE riches and Bauxite surprisesJashora Alkaline Complex in Assam’s Karbi Anglong has emerged as a standout player, with 28.6 million tonnes of REEs. Meghalaya’s Sung Valley, straddling West Jaintia and East Khasi Hills, is home to an ultramafic-alkaline-carbonatite complex with potential for laterite-hosted REE extraction. The Sung Valley, located approximately 45km east of Shillong and home to Muskut village and Mawiong Sung village, highlights the potential for laterite-hosted REE extraction, according to the GSI report.The West Khasi Hills have also shown promise of lateritic bauxite deposits enriched with iron and titanium. Some bauxite caps have returned anomalous REE values, offering a rare opportunity for dual-commodity extraction: industrial and strategic minerals from a single resource.Nagaland’s Cobalt & Nickel potentialNickel and cobalt, tucked within the ophiolite belts of Nagaland and Manipur, have also drawn attention. Found as trace elements in lateritised ultramafic rocks, these metals demand sophisticated beneficiation, but the payoff could be transformative for India’s battery supply chain.One of the most promising sites is the Mollen-Washello area in Nagaland’s Phek district, near the Indo-Myanmar border. Here, the nickel-cobalt-chromium suite has positioned Nagaland as a high-potential state for future critical mineral exploration.Challenges and prospectsDespite its mineral wealth, the North-East’s development has long been constrained by difficult terrain, ecological sensitivity, limited infrastructure and socio-political complexities. But change may finally be underway.“In recent years, the exploration mandate has assumed greater national urgency with India’s aspiration to become Atmanirbhar,” writes Asit Saha, GSI’s director-general, in the ministry of mines’ handbook.Already, seven out of 38 exploration blocks handed over to state governments have been successfully auctioned to bidders. As global supply chains face disruption and resource nationalism rises, the North-East offers a path to diversification and resilience. It’s not just about mining — it’s about strategic autonomy, clean energy leadership and geopolitical leverage.The N-E is also sitting on reserves of vanadium & lithium

What are rare earth elements? Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements. These elements are dispersed in the Earth’s crust, making them difficult and costly to extract and refine