Mumbai, New Delhi, Nov. 28 -- Indian public-sector companies, led by Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), are scouting for mineral asset blocks abroad, including coking coal, limestone and critical minerals such as copper and lithium, after receiving specific instructions to do so from their parent ministry. The companies are eyeing geographies such as Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

The move highlights the Indian government's clear shift towards having its own mineral securitization program through ownership of mines and assets, rather than relying on imports. This would shield entities from geopolitical fluctuations, ensuring uninterrupted supplies, and also...