Lithium found in J&K; more studies needed

JAMMU: The Geological Survey of India found “inferred resources” of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir, raising hopes of India possibly developing its own source of a metal key to its clean energy goals, although officials and experts said it is unclear if much of it can indeed be extracted.

Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and one of the key components in lithium-ion batteries, the type of energy storage used most widely, from mobile phones to electric vehicles.

Its discovery was in ore deposits identified at the “preliminary exploration stage” (G3), which is the second of a four-step process, according to the mines and minerals (development and exploration) act, 1957. “This is for the first time that Lithium reserves have been discovered in the country and that too in Jammu and Kashmir,” Union mines secretary Vivek Bharadwaj said while speaking at the 62nd Central Geological Programming Board meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.

The ore containing lithium deposits was found in the SalalHaimana area of J&K’s Reasi district, which had one of 51 mineral blocks that were identified across 11 states by GSI field work carried out from 2018-19 to 2023.

“Finally, Jammu and Kashmir has made history in the mining sector as we have for the first time discovered the critical mineral lithium used in mobile batteries and electric vehicles. Congrats to all J&K residents as it has finally brought us on the global map in this ongoing G20 Presidency year,” said Jammu and Kashmir mining secretary Amit Sharma said.

Sharma said that the state government received the G3 studies report. “We soon expect to take it to the next level of exploration.”

According to the mines and minerals act, the exploration for any mineral deposit involves four stages.