India’s energy transition is generally discussed in the context of renewable power, electric vehicles, battery storage and green hydrogen. However, the development of these technologies also depends on a reliable supply of the raw materials required to produce them. As competition for these resources increases globally, strengthening domestic mineral exploration is becoming an important part of India’s long-term energy and economic strategy.
The Padhar Platinum Group Elements (PGE) block in Madhya Pradesh is significant in this wider context. A group company of Hindustan Power has been awarded a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the block, which covers approximately 200 square kilometres. The area is considered prospective for platinum group elements and also contains zinc deposits.
The importance of the project extends beyond the minerals being explored. Platinum group elements are used in several technologies that support the global clean-energy transition, including hydrogen production, fuel cells and catalytic systems. Zinc also has a wide range of industrial applications, particularly in infrastructure, energy systems and battery technologies.
For India, building a stronger domestic mineral base could help reduce its exposure to international supply disruptions. The country continues to depend on imports for several important minerals, while the production of certain resources remains concentrated in a limited number of countries. Geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions and logistical challenges can therefore affect industries that India is working to expand.
Ratul Puri, Chairman of Hindustan Power, said, “Securing this critical mineral block is an important step in strengthening India’s resource resilience. Platinum group elements are key to next-generation technologies that will shape the future of energy, mobility and advanced manufacturing, including production of clean hydrogen, fuel cells, electronic and catalytic systems.”
The demand for these minerals is likely to increase as India develops its green hydrogen sector, expands renewable power generation and advances energy storage and electric mobility. These industries are changing how energy is generated and used, while also creating new requirements for a variety of metals and minerals. Improving access to these resources is therefore becoming an important part of supporting the country’s wider energy and industrial objectives.
“With this exploration, we aim to build a reliable domestic resource base for critical minerals, while taking a disciplined and responsible approach. This will support India’s broader priorities of supply chain security and energy leadership,” Puri said.
The Padhar initiative also highlights a broader change taking place across the global industrial landscape. As countries accelerate their transition towards cleaner energy, securing the raw materials needed for clean-energy equipment, mobility solutions and advanced technologies is becoming a major priority. Reliable access to these resources is increasingly important for maintaining industrial competitiveness and supporting long-term economic development.
“For Hindustan Power, this exploration reflects the natural evolution of the company as we expand beyond our established strengths in energy into areas that will define the future industrial landscape,” Puri said.
As the world continues to move towards cleaner energy, access to the minerals required for emerging technologies is becoming closely linked to industrial growth and competitiveness. For India, expanding geological exploration and improving its understanding of domestic mineral resources will be important for supporting renewable energy, green hydrogen, electric mobility and advanced manufacturing.
About Ratul Puri
Ratul Puri is the Chairman of Hindustan Power, an integrated power generation company with a strong presence in renewable and transitional energy generation. Over the years, Ratul Puri has been involved in the development of large-scale energy infrastructure projects that support India’s growing power requirements and its transition toward cleaner energy sources.
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