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State-run miners Coal India and NMDC are exploring lithium mines in Chile and Australia, Secretary of Mines V.L. Kantha Rao said on Wednesday.

The Indian mines ministry is also encouraging other state-owned companies, such as ONGC Videsh , to scout for critical minerals overseas, Rao told reporters at the sidelines of an industry conference in New Delhi.

India will additionally take a delegation to Zambia in June, with executives from the Tata Group and Vedanta, he said. The two governments will discuss the joint exploration of critical minerals such as lithium.

A separate delegation will head to Congo, Rao said.

India is analysing whether an existing trade pact with Chile can be expanded to include critical minerals for government access, Rao said, as well as studying trade routes with Mongolia to explore copper and coal assets there.