State-run Coal India is scouting for critical minerals in Argentina and is in talks with officials in Chile for lithium, India's federal mines secretary V. L. Kantha Rao said on Wednesday. India has been exploring ways to secure supplies of lithium,

Coal India Ltd. is planning to invest about 670 billion rupees ($8 billion) to build coal-fired power plants close to its mines, signaling the fast-growing economy will remain reliant on the fossil fuel for decades to come.

Cutting emissions by capturing methane from coal mines and substituting it for imported gas could save India up to £741m

A recent report by global energy think tank Ember warns that India's annual methane emissions from coal mining could more than double by 2029 compared to 2019, as the country accelerates coal production to meet its growing energy needs.

"Coal India and some other companies are looking at Argentina," Rao told reporters on the sidelines of an industry event.

Coal India is exploring critical minerals in Argentina and is in discussions with Chile for lithium, according to India's federal mines secretary. The move aims to secure supplies of lithium, essential for electric vehicle batteries.