Jharkhand positions itself as India's critical minerals powerhouse on global stage, says state govt

Ranchi, Jan 15 (PTI) Jharkhand is all set to position itself as India's critical minerals powerhouse on the world stage by participating and engaging with global leaders at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, an official statement said on Thursday.

In a first, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will participate in the WEF annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos this month, and also undertake a visit to the United Kingdom to strengthen global partnerships.

"During the WEF and United Kingdom visit by the Chief Minister Hemant Soren-led delegation, the state will tell the world a story that lies at the foundation of India's industrial strength and its future in the clean-energy economy: critical minerals,” the statement said.

For more than a century, the Jharkhand area has been one of India's most important mining and metals regions.

"Built on the ancient Singhbhum geological belt, the state holds some of the country's richest reserves of iron ore, copper, coal, bauxite, uranium, limestone, and strategic rare minerals, materials that are now indispensable to renewable energy, electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and defence technologies," the statement read.

From this mineral base emerged some of India's most iconic industrial institutions - Tata Steel in Jamshedpur, the country's first integrated steel plant, which pioneered modern metallurgy and industrial townships, set global benchmarks for worker welfare, urban planning, and sustainable operations, it said.

Over the decades, the region has also become home to a strong ecosystem of public and private enterprises, engineering firms, and mining companies.

Similarly, institutions like Steel Authority of India Limited, Hindustan Copper Limited, Uranium Corporation of India, etc that have supported everything from national infrastructure and railways to defence, energy, and heavy industry, the statement added.

"Today, that legacy is being re-imagined for a new global era. The minerals beneath Jharkhand's soil are now at the heart of the world's energy transition, supporting the development of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, hydrogen technologies, electric vehicles, and smart grids,” it said.

As India seeks to strengthen its energy security and reduce strategic dependencies, Jharkhand is moving decisively beyond raw mineral extraction towards processing, refining, and downstream utilisation of its mineral resources. As nations seek secure and responsible supply chains for these materials, Jharkhand is positioning itself as a trusted, long-term partner, the statement said.

At Davos, Jharkhand will present its vision of "Growth in Harmony with Nature" to global investors, manufacturers, technology leaders, and policy institutions.

The state's approach recognises that critical minerals must be developed through responsible mining, high-technology processing, strong environmental safeguards, and community-centred governance.

This model seeks to move beyond extraction alone, toward value-added manufacturing, green metallurgy, recycling, and circular economy systems, marching steadily towards powering the energy security of the nation, it said.

"Through a series of policy dialogues, investment meetings, and knowledge sessions at the India Pavilion, followed by targeted engagements in the United Kingdom, Jharkhand will highlight opportunities in critical mineral exploration, downstream processing, green steel, battery materials, advanced alloys, and clean-energy supply chains,” the statement said.

These engagements aim to build international partnerships, technology collaborations, and long-term investment pipelines that can anchor sustainable industrial growth across the state, it said.

“For Jharkhand, taking this story to the World Economic Forum is about more than investment; it is about redefining what a resource-rich region can be,” it added.

As Jharkhand enters its next phase, marking 25 years of statehood and looking toward 2050, its critical minerals will not only fuel India's economic rise but also help power the global transition to a cleaner, more resilient future, the government claimed.

In a key step towards strengthening India's critical minerals ecosystem, under the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), a critical minerals centre was also recently launched at IIT(ISM) Dhanbad.

After the January 18-24 Davos meeting, Soren will deliver a special lecture followed by a question and answer session at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, "becoming the first CM from India to address the institution", one of the world's leading schools of public policy and governance. PTI NAM NN