India-China flashpoints in east Ladakh may be 'rare earth' hub. ONGC studies indicate

The indication of the presence of a rich bounty of extremely valuable minerals in eastern Ladakh has added a new dimension to India-China border conflict. A pilot-study conducted by the ONGC began in 2018 and was prompted by the Geological Survey of India’s (GSI) assertion that Ladakh has some of the most promising geothermal areas in the country, writes senior journalist Sanjib Kr Baruah.

New Delhi: Preliminary findings by the research division of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) of the soil and water samples of nine sites in east Ladakh, including from the Puga Valley and Chhumathang, indicate that the region may be very rich in several ‘rare earth’ elements and ‘heavy metals’ including Uranium, Lanthanum, Gadolinium and many others equally valuable and useful elements and metals.

The indication of the presence of a rich bounty of extremely valuable minerals has added a new dimension to the India-China border conflict that has been characterized by an unusual and puzzling obstinacy by the Chinese PLA not to cede ground.

A copy of the sampled findings has been accessed by ETV Bharat although the numerical figures of the findings are being held back.

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The sites from which the samples have been collected are not very far from the face-off flashpoints ensuing between the Indian and Chinese militaries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) amid attempts by both sides to ‘disengage and de-escalate’ though there are strong indications of both armies digging in for a prolonged stay into the winter.

The samples have yielded very significant numerical figures for ‘rare earths’ which are indispensable for the most existing and emerging energy, scientific, and military technologies, including in the production of modern-day items like computers, laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras, solar panels, electric cars, satellites, lasers, and in making military platforms like fighter aircraft engines.

The pilot-study conducted by the ONGC began in 2018 and was prompted by the Geological Survey of India’s (GSI) assertion that “Ladakh has some of the most promising geothermal areas in the country”.

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ETV Bharat had earlier reported on the potential presence of significant hydrocarbon reserves in the region.

The ONGC pilot-study had to be stopped in February 2020 because of the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and later by the India-China military faceoff.

Besides determining the quantitative presence of rare earth elements and metals in the samples, including Boron, Lithium, Cesium, Vanadium, Uranium, and Thorium using the ICP-MS method (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry), the study also aimed at a better understanding on the geothermal source.

Although labelled ‘rare’, these minerals are not necessarily rare but do not occur in concentrated deposits so that it becomes feasible to mine or extract.

China, by far, is the world leader in the production of rare earths and metals. Many recent global reports have pointed out that China covets its rare earth resources more to achieve its aim of geopolitical dominance and as leverage for use against the West rather than the commercial value.

In 2018, China produced 120,000 tons of rare earth elements, followed by Australia and the US with 15,000 tons. But about 80 per cent of the elements used by the US are from China, which also controls 90 percent of the global trade in these elements.