The Significance of Rare Earths and Barytes in Indian Technology

rare earths, barytes AND India

What are Rare Earths?

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metallic elements that include neodymium, praseodymium, cerium, dysprosium, and others. Despite their name, they are not truly “rare” in nature; rather, their extraction and processing are technically complex and economically challenging. These elements are critical inputs for modern technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, defence systems, and clean energy solutions.

What is Baryte?

Baryte (barium sulphate) is a heavy, non-metallic mineral primarily used in the oil and gas industry. Its main role is to stabilise boreholes during drilling operations by controlling formation pressure and preventing blowouts. Apart from energy exploration, baryte also finds applications in paints, plastics, rubber, X-ray imaging, and radiation shielding, though its dominant global demand comes from hydrocarbon exploration.

Why are They Strategically Important?

Rare earths are indispensable for renewable energy, electronics, and advanced defence technologies.

Baryte is crucial for oil and gas exploration, directly linked to energy security.

Both have limited substitutes, which makes them strategically valuable for industrialised economies.

The Global Context

China controls the majority of global rare earth mining and processing, often using its dominance as a bargaining tool in trade and geopolitics.

India is among the largest exporters of baryte, supplying nearly half of the US’s requirements.

Industrial economies like the US, EU, and Japan are highly dependent on uninterrupted access to these minerals, giving supplier nations strategic leverage.

India’s Position in Barytes

India holds around 2.5–3 million tonnes of baryte reserves, mostly in Andhra Pradesh.

Nearly 96% of India’s baryte exports are directed to the United States.

Current extraction levels suggest that reserves could be depleted within a decade unless new deposits are discovered or extraction is made more sustainable.

India’s Rare Earth Potential

India has significant deposits of monazite sands along its coastal regions, rich in rare earth elements.

Strategic minerals such as neodymium and cerium can support India’s growth in clean energy, electronics, and defence sectors.

However, India faces a processing bottleneck, with limited capacity for refining and value addition, which restricts its role in global supply chains.

What Should Be India’s Strategy?

Recognise rare earths and barytes as strategic assets, not just export commodities.

Encourage domestic processing and value addition instead of raw mineral exports.

Build strategic reserves to ensure long-term supply security.

Use calibrated export restrictions to enhance bargaining power, learning from China’s rare earth strategy.

Integrate mineral policy with energy security, defence needs, and industrial growth.

How Does This Affect India’s Global Role?

If India manages its baryte and rare earth resources strategically, it can:

- Reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.

- Strengthen bargaining power in global mineral trade.

- Accelerate its clean energy transition and technological self-reliance.

- Position itself as a reliable but self-conscious supplier in the global mineral market, enhancing both economic and strategic influence.