New Delhi, July 15 -- Scouring the planet for access to scarce minerals is new not just for India, but also for other countries. From missiles to solar cells and motors that propel vehicles, some of these play an irreplaceable role. The chase is especially compelling for us since domestic resources are limited and under-explored. Worse, at a global level, these assets are concentrated. For instance, Congo holds about half the world's known cobalt resources, a versatile mineral used in batteries and magnets to drive electric motors.

Recent reports suggest that NLC India Ltd (earlier called Neyveli Lignite Corp), a public sector mining and power generation company, is in talks to buy a stake in a Russian-owned lithium mine in Mali, Africa....