Reasi’s lithium reserve is of best quality, says J&K mining secretary

JAMMU: The country’s first lithium reserve found in Jammu and Kashmir is of the best quality, a senior government official said on Saturday.

The 5.9 million tonne reserve of lithium, a crucial mineral for the manufacturing of electric vehicles and solar panels, had been discovered in Reasi district by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

“Lithium falls in the critical resource category which was not earlier available in India and we were dependent on its 100% import. The G3 (advanced) study of the GSI shows the presence of best quality lithium in abundant quantity at Salal village (Reasi),” J&K mining secretary Amit Sharma told news agency PTI.

He said against the normal grade of 220 parts per million (PPM), the lithium found in J&K is of 500 ppm-plus grading, and with a stockpile of 5.9 million tonnes, India will surpass China in its availability.

Asked about the possible timeline for its extraction to start, he said every project takes its own time.

“We had G3 level study and it will now be followed by G2 and G1 study before the final extraction of the metal. Everything will be done at the earliest and we will collaborate with the GSI and extend our full support in this historical feat,” he added.

The mining secretary assured the people that the reserve will be a game-changer for them as the local youths are given preference in any project as per the government’s industrial policy.

“The local youth, whether skilled, semi-skilled or unskilled, will be part of this project. People who will be affected by this project will be adequately compensated and rehabilitated under rules,” Sharma said.

Salal is home to the Salal Hydroelectric Power Station, a run-of-the-river hydropower project on Chenab river.

Salal is located on way to under-construction paradigmatic Chenab railway bridge with a height of 359 meters, 30 meters higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris.