Lithium reserves in J&K

Lithium reserves in J&K

News: Recently, the Geological Survey of India has for the first time discovered Lithium reserves in the SalalHaimana area of Reasi District of Jammu & Kashmir(UT).

What is Lithium?
 Lithium is a soft, silvery metal. It has the lowest density of all metals.
 Under standard conditions, Lithium is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive and flammable. It never occurs freely in nature due to its high reactivity.
 Greenbushes mine in Western Australia is the largest hard-rock lithium mine in the world and Australia is the global leader in Lithium production.
 Lithium is primarily extracted from brine pools (‘Salar’ in Chile) and rock minerals such as spodumene (in Australia)

What are the uses of Lithium?
 Lithium is used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles.
 Lithium metal is made into alloys with aluminium and magnesium, improving their strength and making them lighter. A magnesium-lithium alloy is used for armour plating.
 Aluminium-lithium alloys are used in aircraft, bicycle frames and high-speed trains.
 Lithium oxide is used in special glasses and glass ceramics.
 Lithium is used in the treatment of bipolar disorder due to its ability to stabilize mood swings.
 Lithium is used as a lubricant in high-temperature and high-vacuum environments.

Few Facts about Lithium reserves around the world:
 According to the US Geological Survey, the world has 98 million tonnes of Lithium reserves. Of that, half of it is in South America’s ‘lithium triangle’ of Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Apart from that, the US, Australia and China also have some Lithium reserves.
 The recent Lithium discovery in Jammu & Kashmir is about 5.9 million tonnes which is about 5.5% of the world’s total Lithium reserves.

What is the significance of recent Lithium findings?
 Lithium’s lightness and ability to pack in energy make it a good pick for vehicles and devices that run on rechargeable batteries since lithium ions can store and release electricity without adding much body weight.
 Reduced dependence on imports for Lithium. India currently imports around 70 percent of its lithium requirement from countries like China and Hong Kong.
 It will boost the manufacture of rechargeable batteries.
 India's plan to increase EV penetration by 30 percent by 2030 relies heavily on lithium. This vital discovery by GSI can help boost the production of lithium-ion batteries and will put India on track to reaching its goal of net zero emissions by 2070.
 It will significantly boost employment opportunities and economic development.
 China dominates the Lithium supply chain and it has agreements with South American suppliers. We can
build our own networks after recent discovery and be a market for World’s lithium cell assembly.

Way Forward:
 While the discovery is significant as it is a step towards self-sufficiency. A lot also depends on how much of it is actually discovered and refined as well, because that is what the value chain looks like.
 After that it goes for refining self-production, then module assembly and that is when it goes into the OEMs. So, a lot of steps have to be covered here right now.