GAIL, KABIL Sign MoU on Critical Minerals Collaboration

Synopsis: GAIL Limited and Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) sign an MoU to collaborate on critical and strategic minerals, strengthening India's long-term resource security, clean energy ambitions, and resilient mineral supply chains.

GAIL (India) Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) to collaborate in the field of critical and strategic minerals, marking a significant step towards strengthening India's long-term mineral resource security. The partnership is aimed at supporting the country's clean energy transition, advanced manufacturing ambitions, and efforts to build resilient supply chains for critical minerals essential to emerging technologies.

The MoU was signed in New Delhi by Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Director (R&D and Exploration & Production) at GAIL, and Sunil Kumar Singh, Chief Executive Officer of KABIL, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations. Under the agreement, the two public sector entities will jointly identify and evaluate opportunities related to critical and strategic minerals while leveraging their respective technical expertise and industry capabilities.

As part of the collaboration, GAIL and KABIL will explore joint initiatives across the mining value chain, including technical cooperation, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and resource assessment. The partnership seeks to improve India's long-term access to minerals that are vital for electric vehicles, battery manufacturing, renewable energy systems, semiconductors, and other strategic industries. These minerals include lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements, which have become increasingly important for global energy transition and advanced manufacturing.

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The initiative aligns with the Government of India's broader strategy to strengthen critical mineral security and reduce dependence on imports. KABIL, a joint venture established by the Ministry of Mines, has been mandated to identify, acquire, and develop overseas critical mineral assets to ensure a stable supply for domestic industries. The organisation has already entered into partnerships in countries such as Argentina and Australia as part of its international resource acquisition strategy.

For GAIL, the partnership represents an expansion of its role in supporting India's energy security beyond its traditional natural gas business. By collaborating with KABIL, the company aims to contribute to the development of secure supply chains for minerals that are expected to play a central role in clean energy technologies, advanced electronics, and future industrial growth. The agreement also reflects the increasing participation of public sector enterprises in strategic resource development and technology-driven sectors.

The GAIL-KABIL partnership is expected to reinforce India's critical minerals ecosystem by combining technical expertise, global resource acquisition efforts, and institutional collaboration. As demand for strategic minerals continues to rise worldwide, the MoU supports the country's objective of achieving greater self-reliance, enhancing supply chain resilience, and securing the raw materials required for its long-term economic and energy transition goals.