Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) is an Indian joint venture company established to ensure a consistent supply of critical and strategic minerals to the Indian domestic market.
KABIL was incorporated as a joint partnership between three Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs): National Aluminium Company (NALCO), Hindustan Copper (HCL), and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL). The equity participation between NALCO, HCL, and MECL in the company is in the ratio of 40:30:30, respectively.[1][2][3][4][5]
Background[edit | edit source]
KABIL's main objective is to ensure a consistent supply of critical minerals to the Indian domestic market and the mineral security of the nation. The company also helps in realizing the overall objective of import substitution. KABIL is mandated to identify and acquire overseas mineral assets of a critical and strategic nature, such as copper, lithium, and cobalt.[6]
Based on a commissioned study and selection criteria, select source countries have been shortlisted to explore possibilities of mineral asset acquisition abroad. So far, KABIL's engagement is underway with source countries like Australia, Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, which are endowed with cited critical and strategic minerals.[6]
Functioning[edit | edit source]
KABIL is responsible for carrying out identification, acquisition, exploration, development, mining, and processing of strategic minerals overseas for commercial use and meeting the country's requirement for these minerals. The sourcing of these minerals or metals is done by creating trading opportunities, G2G (government-to-government) collaborations with the producing countries, or strategic acquisitions/investments in the exploration and mining assets of these minerals in the source countries.[1][7][8]
Finance[edit | edit source]
The joint venture company, Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL), has an authorised capital of ₹100 crore and a paid-up capital of ₹30 crore.[9]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "KABIL lithium-ion for India". Autocar Professional. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "NALCO to boost smelting capacity, eyes rare earth diversification through Khanij Bidesh". Business Today. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "China's rare earth export curbs hit Indian EV industry; govt explores alternatives". ETAuto.com. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "Indian state firms seek stake in SQM's lithium projects in Australia". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "Press Release". Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "State-owned firm KABIL to sign lithium pact with Argentina". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "Top three companies in India which mine lithium". CNBCTV18. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "Strategies, Policies, and the Search for Critical Minerals: A Situation Report". Global Trade Observer. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2026.
- ↑ "HCL gets nod for joint venture company with MECL, NALCO". Zee Business. Retrieved 18 October 2026.