From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has discovered in Reasi district of Jammu the country’s first deposits of lithium, a strategic metal used in batteries for electric vehicles, mobile phones and computers.
It estimated 5.9 million tonnes of the lithium deposits which would make it the world’s second largest reserve after Chile’s 8 million tonnes.
The scientists said the estimate was based on early-stage prospecting of the mineral resources, but it still does not give a clear picture of how much of the reserves are economically viable.
The GSI said the lithium discovery emerged from the field investigations since 2018-19 that had also shown possible deposits of gold and other minerals in 11 states. Scientists say even half of the estimated 5.9 million tonnes would be a significant abudance of this strategic economic metal.
India currently imports all lithium and lithium-ion batteries, mainly from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Vietnam at a cost of over Rs 27,700 crore.
The industry analysts predict that the global market for lithium will continue to grow in the coming decades. Chile has the world’s largest known reserves of 8 million tonnes, followed by Australia 2.7 million tonnes, Argentina 2.7 million tonnes and China 1 million tonne.
