 "Lithium, hydrocarbons, uranium…: Critical mineral reserves in countries PM Modi visits on 5-nation tour")
As India sharpens its focus on securing critical minerals to drive its green energy and industrial ambitions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing five-nation tour holds profound strategic significance. His visits to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina and Namibia — each rich in key mineral and energy resources — highlight India’s evolving mineral diplomacy.
This diplomatic offensive is geared toward building long-term partnerships in sectors such as lithium mining, hydrocarbons, uranium supply and rare earth elements, ensuring sustainable access to the raw materials needed for India’s technological transformation.
Apart from the four countries mentioned above, Prime Minister Modi’s itinerary also includes Brazil, where he will travel from July 5 to 8. His visit will serve a dual purpose of attending the 17th Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro and undertaking a formal State Visit.
At the summit, the prime minister will engage with fellow Briocs leaders on pressing global challenges ranging from reforming international institutions and fostering global peace to advancing multilateral cooperation, ethical AI development, climate resilience, global public health and economic stability.
A series of one-on-one meetings with other world leaders is also expected on the margins of the summit. Following the Brics deliberations, Prime Minister Modi will head to Brasília for high-level talks with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Their dialogue is set to deepen the India–Brazil Strategic Partnership, with a focus on boosting collaboration across key sectors including trade, defence, renewable energy, space exploration, digital innovation, sustainable agriculture, healthcare and people-to-people ties.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsGhana: West Africa’s lithium gateway and beyond
Once primarily known for its exports of gold and cocoa, Ghana is increasingly seen as a key player in the global lithium supply chain. Ranking 10th globally and third in Africa in terms of lithium reserves, Ghana’s west coast has become central to discussions on critical minerals. The lithium discovered in Ghana in 2018 has brought the country into the spotlight, especially as the world transitions to electric mobility and battery storage systems.
This rise in mineral prominence aligns with India’s green energy roadmap. Lithium is essential to the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs), smartphones and energy storage systems — technologies at the heart of India’s energy security strategy. In light of this, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ghana, the first by an Indian head of government in over three decades reflects a reinvigorated partnership anchored on shared resource interests.
India has responded with an economic commitment, extending a line of credit worth approximately $450 million to Ghana, targeted at critical sectors like lithium, manganese and bauxite. According to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Indian companies have invested in over 820 projects worth nearly $2 billion since 1994, positioning India as Ghana’s second-largest investor by number of projects in 2024.
Beyond trade, Prime Minister Modi and President John Mahama upgraded bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Partnership, focussing on energy, maritime security, defence and digital infrastructure.
The two countries also signed Memoranda of Understanding covering areas such as traditional medicine, standards cooperation and cultural exchanges. With increasing Indian involvement in lithium exploration and capacity building, Ghana is poised to play a significant role in India’s mineral security framework.
Trinidad & Tobago: Energy diplomacy in the Caribbean
Trinidad & Tobago, the largest producer of oil and natural gas in the Caribbean, represents a crucial energy partner for India. Positioned just north of Venezuela — a country with some of the world’s largest hydrocarbon reserves — Trinidad & Tobago has a well-established petroleum industry dating back over a century.
The country boasts one of the largest natural gas processing facilities in the Western Hemisphere and is the world’s top exporter of ammonia and the second-largest exporter of methanol, as per data from IHS Global Insight. With global demand for clean-burning fuels increasing, Trinidad & Tobago’s vast hydrocarbon reserves provide a vital option for India to diversify its energy imports.
During his two-day visit beginning July 3, Prime Minister Modi shall meet with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to bolster bilateral relations that span not just energy, but also digital infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and disaster resilience.
The focus on areas such as FinTech and digital payments — where India has considerable expertise — highlights the complementarity in the India-Trinidad & Tobago relationship.
Given that nearly half of Trinidad & Tobago’s population is of Indian origin, the visit also celebrated longstanding cultural and historical bonds while laying the groundwork for deeper strategic cooperation.
Argentina: South America’s lithium powerhouse and energy frontier
With lithium demand surging due to the proliferation of electric vehicles and energy storage technologies, Argentina has emerged as one of the most strategically important countries in the world. Holding the second-largest lithium reserves globally — constituting about 20.94 per cent of the world’s total, or nearly 22 million tonnes — Argentina is at the centre of the Lithium Triangle, alongside Bolivia and Chile. This region alone hosts over half of the world’s known lithium resources.
Most of Argentina’s lithium lies in brine deposits in salt flats, offering cost-effective extraction opportunities. The nation currently commands approximately 13 per cent of the global lithium resource market and is rapidly increasing its production, making it indispensable to the global battery supply chain.
India’s interest in Argentina extends beyond lithium. The South American country also holds the second-largest shale gas and fourth-largest shale oil reserves globally, with the Vaca Muerta formation in Neuquén Province seen as a future energy hub.
These assets have drawn increasing attention from Indian public and private sector companies. In 2024, a landmark deal was struck between India’s state-owned KABIL and Argentina’s CAMYEN for the leasing and development of five lithium blocks in Catamarca.
Further, India and Argentina have expanded cooperation in oil and gas through agreements between OVL and Argentina’s YPF. Defence ties are also growing, marked by the supply of helicopter components by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and technology exchanges with FAdeA. Trade between the two nations has seen significant growth, rebounding to $5.2 billion in 2024 after a previous year’s downturn due to climate-related disruptions.
With over $1.2 billion in Indian investments in Argentina, spanning IT, engineering and manufacturing, the strategic relationship is gaining traction. Prime Minister Modi’s visit is expected to further galvanise these partnerships, ensuring Indian industries gain access to critical raw materials while offering technology and investment in return.
Namibia: Uranium and rare earths for strategic autonomy
Namibia, often overshadowed in global headlines, is increasingly seen as a linchpin in India’s quest for nuclear fuel security and rare earth elements. As the third-largest producer of uranium in the world — contributing roughly 11 per cent to global supply — Namibia is vital to the global nuclear energy chain. The country’s uranium production is poised for a significant upswing, as new mining projects come online in 2024 and beyond, according to the Chamber of Mines of Namibia.
India is actively courting Namibia to secure stable uranium supplies for its civilian nuclear power programme. The visit by Prime Minister Modi to Namibia marks a strategic outreach to not just bolster uranium imports, but also explore cooperation in rare earth minerals such as neodymium, dysprosium and cobalt. These minerals are essential for the manufacture of high-efficiency motors, wind turbines and advanced electronics — sectors critical to India’s technological future.
Namibia also boasts substantial reserves of diamonds and copper. Indian firms have invested heavily — over $800 million — in Namibia, particularly in diamond processing and services. Despite the fact that Namibia doesn’t sell rough diamonds directly to India, Indian diamond traders access Namibian stones via hubs like Antwerp and London. Prime Minister Modi’s visit could pave the way for more direct trade routes and collaborations in value addition.
The country also ranks among the top 10 globally in rare earth element potential, offering India an opportunity to reduce its dependence on Chinese supply chains in this strategically sensitive domain. PM Modi’s discussions in Namibia are expected to encompass defence cooperation, critical mineral exploration and deeper industrial partnerships.
A mineral-driven diplomacy in action
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-nation tour is not merely a diplomatic gesture; it is a manifestation of India’s recalibrated foreign policy centred on energy security, mineral access and economic resilience.
In each country, the bilateral agenda was carefully crafted around core Indian interests — securing lithium from Ghana and Argentina, hydrocarbons from Trinidad & Tobago and uranium and rare earths from Namibia.
These strategic engagements are complemented by economic tools, including concessional credit lines, public-private investment and knowledge exchange. For instance, the $450 million credit to Ghana covers vital infrastructure like the Tema-Mpakadan railway line linking mineral-rich zones to export terminals.
In Argentina, the public-sector KABIL’s lithium acquisition marks a historic step in India’s outward mineral acquisition strategy.
From cultural diplomacy in Trinidad & Tobago to cutting-edge FinTech partnerships, India is broadening the definition of strategic engagement. At the heart of this diplomatic outreach is a desire to secure the critical minerals needed for energy transition, manufacturing expansion and digital transformation — three pillars of India’s long-term development strategy.
As the world races toward a resource-based geopolitical order, India’s assertive mineral diplomacy, exemplified by Prime Minister Modi’s five-nation tour, signals its intent to be a future-ready economy, securing its position in an increasingly competitive global resource arena.
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