India set to surpass China after discovering huge deposits of Lithium in Reasi area of Jammu & Kashmir

The discovery of large deposits of Lithium would make India the sixth-largest holder of Lithium reserves

February 11, 2023

‘Game Changer for India’

Huge find of Lithium in Reasi district

The Geological Survey of India has for the first time discovered huge deposits of Lithium to the tune of 5.9 million tonnes in the Salal-Haimna area of the Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir.

With this significant discovery India is all set to become self-reliant in the field of producing electric vehicle batteries, mobile phone batteries at cheaper rates in the coming times.

This is for the first time that Lithium reserves have been discovered in the country and that too in Jammu and Kashmir,” Union Mines Secretary, Vivek Bharadwaj announced while speaking at the 62nd Central Geological Programming Board meeting at New Delhi.

“We have re-oriented our exploration measures towards critical and strategic minerals and this discovery is a vindication of our efforts,” Vivek Bhardwaj told the August audience.

On the occasion, Vivek Bhardwaj also handed over two Major Mineral Blocks Geological Reports of Lithium Blocks in Jammu Division and G3 Study (Advanced Study) of Lithium, AI and Titanium in Jammu division, to Secretary Mining J&K Amit Sharma for taking further necessary action in the matter.

Amit Sharma said that all necessary steps shall be taken in collaboration with Geological Survey of India to ensure that this historical feat of e-Auctioning Major Mineral Blocks shall take place within a time bound manner.

“Lithium blocks which are a rare thing and much demanded global mineral for electric batteries which is the future, shall be explored and eAuctioned so that J&K figures on the global map so far as availability of Lithium reserves in the world are concerned,” he added.

Game changer for India

On reaching Jammu, Amit Sharma told reporters it will be a big game changer for India and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

India will be joining a long list of countries already exporting Lithium to other nations. Sharma said, soon we will prepare a timeline and launch advance studies before initiating e-auction of the lithium reserves.

He said the reserves have been found at a time when India is all set to host G20 Nations and time is ripe for sending a message to the world community that India too has joined the club of Lithium exporters along with Bolivia, Argentina, Chilli, America and China.

Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles. It is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys and clocks. Currently, India is import-dependent for Lithium.

Lithium reserves

Bolivia – 21 million tonnes
Argentina – 17 million tonnes
Chile – 9 million tonnes
USA 7.9 MT.
Australia – 6.3 million tonnes
India –5.9 MT
China – 5.1 MT

Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

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