NEW DELHI: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has for the first time recognized availability of lithium-inferred resources of 5.9 million tonnes in Salal-Haimana location of Reasi in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir.The discovery is of strategic significance as it will go a long method in solving scarcity of lithium, a crucial component of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs) and other chargeable instruments, in the country.

India now has the seventh largest resource of lithium globally, but it will take time to convert it to reserves.India currently has to depend greatly on imports of lithium as major reserves of this critical non-ferrous metal are located in the United States, Australia, Chile, China, Argentina and Bolivia.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has just recently interrupted the supply, resulting in high expense of the minerals.

Out of 98 million tonnes of lithium resources, only 26 million tonnes were dealt with as reserves (all set for usage) globally.

Lithium-ion battery demand will grow greatly in the power and transportation sectors.

Globally, there are 98 million tonnes of lithium resources and we (India) have found 5.5% of the overall resources.

If a few of these resources can be converted to reserves, it would help us meet our domestic need and also supply to the world, stated Rishabh Jain, senior program lead, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).

Highlighting Indias move for the battery PLI plan of Rs 18,100 crore to set up battery cell manufacturing in the nation, Jain, nevertheless, stated: It is very important to establish mineral processing and raw material processing ability to genuinely become atmanirbhar (self-reliant).

Global figures, according to US Geological Survey data, reveal that Bolivia has the greatest 21 million tonnes of recognized lithium resources, followed by 20 million tonnes in Argentina, 12 million tonnes in the United States, 11 million tonnes in Chile, 7.9 million tonnes in Australia, 6.8 million tonnes in China, 5.9 million tonnes in India (as found by GSI) and 3.2 million tonnes in Germany.Apart from use in EVs, lithium is likewise vital for harnessing solar power and wind energy-- key elements of Indias efforts to move towards its low carbon development path in the pursuit of reaching carbon neutrality (net no emission goal) by 2070.

GSIs discovery of lithium reserves in J&K was disclosed on Thursday during its 62nd Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) meeting.

In addition to lithium reserves, the GSI, throughout its field observation in 2018-19, likewise discovered blocks of other minerals, including 5 blocks of gold in various states.Out of the recently discovered 51 mineral blocks, other blocks relate to commodities like potash, molybdenum, base metals, spread across Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

Apart from these, 17 reports of coal and lignite with an overall resource of 7,897 million tonnes were also turned over to the ministry of coal, said the ministry of mines in a statement on Thursday.It further stated, During the occurring year 2023-24, GSI is taking up 966 programs making up 318 mineral exploration jobs, including 12 marine mineral examination jobs.

Major thrust has been given to the expedition of tactical, vital and fertiliser minerals.

A total of 115 jobs on strategic and vital minerals, including 16 projects on fertiliser minerals, have actually been formulated.

The statement included: In addition, 55 programs on geoinformatics, 140 programmes on fundamental and multidisciplinary geosciences, and 155 programmes for training and institutional capability building have likewise been used up.