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Context:

India engages with China to address export restrictions on germanium.

About Germanium

Germanium, with the chemical symbol Ge and atomic number 32, is a silvery-gray metalloid in Group 14 of the periodic table, sitting between silicon and tin.

It resembles silicon in its chemical and physical properties, a diamond-like crystalline structure.

Stable in air and water, germanium resists most alkalis and acids, except nitric acid.

Application

• Semiconductors: Used in transistors and diodes for high-speed electronics.
• Fiber Optics: Refracts light in cables, enabling fast internet connectivity.
• Solar Panels: Enhances efficiency in photovoltaic cells for satellites and renewable energy.
• Infrared Optics: Powers night vision goggles and thermal imaging devices.

Germanium occurs in nature but never in its free form due to its reactivity. 

• It appears in rare minerals like germanite and argyrodite, but industries extract it primarily as a by-product of zinc production (75% of global supply) and coal fly ash (25%).

Global Production   

China leads the world in germanium production, accounting for about 60% of the global supply. Other producers include Canada, Finland, Russia, and the United States.

India lacks domestic germanium production and depends entirely on imports. Recent Chinese export controls have forced Indian importers to source germanium through intermediaries, such as suppliers in the UAE, inflating costs.

What Can India Do?

Strengthen Diplomacy => Continue engaging China to ensure stable germanium supplies while exploring multilateral forums to address critical mineral trade.

Diversify Supply Chains => Build partnerships with Canada, Finland, and Russia to reduce dependence on Chinese imports.

Invest in R&D => Develop technologies to extract germanium from zinc ores and coal fly ash.

Promote Recycling => Establish facilities to recycle germanium from electronic waste and solar panels, reduce import dependency.

Policy Support: => Expand schemes like the Critical Minerals Mission to prioritize germanium and other strategic minerals, ensuring incentives for exploration and processing. 

Must Read Articles: 

CRITICAL MINERALS OF INDIA

CRITICAL AND STRATEGIC MINERALS

CRITICAL MINERAL EXPLORATION

NATIONAL CRITICAL MINERAL MISSION

Source: 

THE HINDU