Jharkhand, with 12 critical minerals, has emerged as a significant hub for clean energy transition and decarbonisation.

This was revealed in a report titled “Critical minerals for energy transition: A catalyst for making Jharkhand future-ready” released on Thursday in Ranchi by the Jharkhand government’s task force for sustainable just transition and its technical partner, the Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED).

The report analyses the crucial role of critical minerals, which serve as the foundation for clean energy transition and decarbonisation, and also form the backbone of renewable energy systems, high-tech applications, defence equipment, electric vehicles and energy storage devices.

Critical minerals, often referred to as rare earth elements and other strategic minerals, play an indispensable role in the production of a diverse range of high-tech applications, including electronics, renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, defence systems, and advanced medical devices.

Unveiling the key theme of the report, the chairperson of the state finance commission, A.P. Singh, emphasised that the worldwide transition to cleaner energy sources is heavily reliant on the responsible extraction of critical minerals and efficient resource management.

“Identifying and utilising mineral-rich regions like Jharkhand can catalyze industrial development, opening avenues for investments, employment opportunities, and infrastructural growth,” said Singh.

Through review of the literature and international case studies, the report broadly explores 35 critical minerals, with a focused analysis of 17 pivotal to India’s pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.