As it looks for alternate sources of a strategically important material that China controls tightly, India is attempting to acquire rare-earth samples from Myanmar with the help of a strong rebel group, four individuals familiar with the situation said.
According to three sources, India’s Ministry of Mines requested that state-owned and private companies investigate the possibility of gathering and transferring samples from mines in northeastern Myanmar that are governed by the Kachin Independence Army.
According to the sources, those involved in the talks included the state-owned miner IREL and the private company Midwest Advanced Materials, which was awarded government funding last year for the commercial production of rare-earth magnets.
