India
scouting for rare Lithium
A global war
of sorts has begun for the vital mineral Lithium needed for Electric Vehicles
(EVs) and India has joined the race to
promote green energy in the
transportation sector. If it is focusing on importing the vital mineral
from more than 50 countries, it is also working to extract Lithium within India
too.
India's
import has taken a quantum jump from a mere NOS 12502 in 2011-12 to 72,375 NOS in 2019-20 of one variety. With
regard to the high-end quality of Lithium, the import was 539,427 NOS in 2019-20,
as per official data. The imports were from more than 50 countries including
Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Israel, Singapore and smaller countries like
Malta, Estonia etc.
Simultaneously,
the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research has established
1600 tonnes (inferred category) Lithium resource in Karnataka. In addition, the
Geological Survey of India has carried out a ‘preliminary exploration’ of Rare
Earth Elements and Lithium in Salal Haimna areas of Reasi District, Jammu &
Kashmir. The government has confirmed an inferred resource (G3) of 5.9 million
tonnes of lithium ore in the state. The government is also exploring ways and
means to auction the Lithium mineral block including private sector companies.
A decision in this regard will be taken by the J&K government soon.
India is
also entering the critical minerals fray to get Lithium to promote EV in a big
way. It set up KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd), a joint venture of three PSUs
(NALCO, HCL & MECL) on the pattern of ONGC Videsh (OVL), to secure India’s
supplies of strategic minerals through global investments. The global
production of lithium stood at 84,000 tons in 2021 and KABIL is trying hard to
procure Lithium from abroad and also invest in mineral production in other
countries.
