India is exploring rare earth supplies from Myanmar with the help of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), a powerful rebel group controlling mines in the country’s northeast, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Ministry of Mines has tasked state-run IREL and private firm Midwest Advanced Materials—funded last year for rare-earth magnet production—to collect and transport mineral samples.
The move comes as New Delhi seeks alternatives to China’s near-monopoly on rare earth processing. The samples, already being gathered by the KIA, will be tested in Indian labs for heavy rare earths essential in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced electronics. Discussions between Indian firms and the KIA took place online in July, marking a rare case of Delhi engaging with a non-state actor.
India’s growing interest follows Beijing’s restrictions on rare earth exports this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also raised the issue in August with Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, though no public deal was announced. Meanwhile, IREL is pursuing collaborations with Japanese and Korean partners to boost domestic magnet manufacturing.
The KIA, which seized Myanmar’s resource-rich Chipwe-Pangwa mining belt last year, supplies rare earths to China but is increasingly engaging India amid tensions with the junta. Delhi is considering a long-term supply route, though transporting large quantities across rugged terrain poses significant logistical hurdles.
Analysts say competition with China drives India’s outreach, though scaling up processing without Chinese technology remains challenging. Experts note India could eventually refine rare earths domestically, but building industrial-scale capacity will take time.
As global demand for rare earths surges, India’s effort to diversify sources underscores its strategy to reduce reliance on Beijing and secure critical minerals for future industries.