India’s first Lithium reserves were discovered in Reasi, Jammu division of around 5.9 million tonnes, marking a significant step towards becoming self-reliant of the country.
AIR Jammu Correspondent reported yesterday that Union Mines Secretary, Vivek Bharadwaj revealed that Lithium has been discovered in Jammu & Kashmir at the 62nd Central Geological Programming Board Meeting in New Delhi.
Rare lithium blocks are in high demand for electric batteries. Non-ferrous metal lithium is used in rechargeable batteries for smartphones, laptops, and digital cameras, as well as electric vehicles.
It can also be found in non-rechargeable batteries that are used for things such as clocks, toys, and heart pacemakers. Lithium is a metal known for its low density and high energy-to-weight ratio, as well as its ability to store large amounts.
India is currently import-dependent for cobalt, nickel, and lithium. The discovery of Lithium blocks will lead to the exploration and eAuctioning of Lithium blocks, which will help J&K figure on the global map as far as Lithium resources around the globe.
Reaction Quote from EV Industry Experts:
The unavailability of Lithium has been one of the reasons why India has been dependent on other countries for Li-Ion batteries and other EV components. Lithium being one of the core elements of the Li-Ion batteries and taking into consideration the financial impact of sourcing Lithium, the recent discovery of Lithium reserves in J&K does come in as a new lease of life as it further enables India’s ambition to become self-sufficient in its energy storage needs.
At a time when the government has been catalysing initiatives toward EV battery manufacturing and green mobility to reach its ambitious net-zero goal by 2070, the report from the Geological Survey of India about the discovery brings hope for localized production of Li-ion cells and batteries, which will also go a long way in reducing our trade deficits with the neighbouring country.
Mr. Pankaj Sharma, Co-Founder and Director of Log9 Materials
The Mines Ministry of India has announced the discovery of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the first time that such a large deposit of lithium has been found in the country. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has carried out the exploration and has confirmed the presence of these reserves. This is a major boost for the Indian EV industry, as it is heavily dependent on imported cells from China and Taiwan. With this new development, battery costs are expected to come down significantly, as we will now be able to source cells from within the country. This will also help reduce our dependence on China, which is a major concern for many in the current political climate. This will have a huge impact on the cost of batteries and make EVs more affordable for consumers. This is a major step forward for the EV industry in India, and it will help to accelerate the adoption of EVs in the country.
Mr. Varun Goenka, CEO & Co-Founder, Chargeup
“With the increased adoption of electric mobility in recent years, there is a huge demand for Li-ion batteries. The recent finding of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium in Jammu & Kashmir will significantly boost the sector. Currently, India is also progressing into cell manufacturing of batteries and it will provide the much-needed impetus to the sector as it will reduce the dependence on imports while also solving the supply-chain challenges as the country will have its own reserves of lithium. There will also be a cost impact as the cells, when manufactured indigenously, will become cheaper.
Coupled with a favorable announcement by the Government of India during Union Budget 2023 on the exemption of Customs Duty on imports of capital goods and machinery for manufacturing of li-ion cells for EV batteries, this indigenous supply of lithium reserves will help the EV eco-system reach the masses at reasonable and affordable costs. Additionally, this will also support the Government’s vision of EV mass adoption by 2030.”
Mr. Pratik Kamdar, Co-Founder, of Neuron Energy
