Reserves of lithium, a key battery component, found in Jammu and Kashmir, first in India
For the first time in India, lithium reserves have been found in Jammu and Kashmir, the government said on Thursday.
Mines Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj informed that for the first time, lithium reserves have been discovered and in Jammu and Kashmir during exploration by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in Reasi district of the erstwhile state.
In a tweet, the mines ministry said that GSI, for the first time, has discovered Lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes, have been found in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The mines ministry had earlier said that government was taking several proactive steps to secure minerals, including lithium, from Australia and Argentina, in a bid to strengthen the critical mineral supply chain for emerging technologies.
At present, India depends on imports for minerals like lithium, nickel and cobalt. Lithium, a non-ferrous metal, is one of the key components in EV batteries.
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Bharadwaj stressed the need the for key minerals pointing out that critical technologies, whether a solar panel or a cell phone, require these precious metals to make, adding that India to search for critical minerals within its own boundaries in order to become a self-reliant nation.
He was speaking at the 62nd Central Geological Programming board meeting in New Delhi.
Bharadwaj added that the key to become “aatmanirbhar (self-reliant)” is to reduce gold imports.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) was established in 1851 to find coal deposits for the Railways but over the years, it has not only grown into a repository of geo-science information required in various fields in the country but also attained the status of a geo-scientific organisation of international repute.
GSI’s main functions relate to creating and updating of national geoscientific information and mineral resource assessment. These objectives are achieved through ground surveys, air-borne and marine surveys, mineral prospecting and investigations, multi-disciplinary geoscientific, geo-technical, geo-environmental and natural hazards studies, glaciology, seismo-tectonic study and carrying out fundamental research.
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