There has been an exciting stir over the new finding of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir raising hopes Kashmir could be the new UAE!
A fortnight ago, the Geological Survey of India found an ‘inferred’ reserve of 5.9 million tonnes of Lithium in Jammu & Kashmir. The Geological Survey of India believes that Jammu & Kashmir could hold an ‘inferred estimate’ of 5.9 million tonnes (mt).
The government on Thursday said lithium reserves have been found for the first time in the country in Jammu and Kashmir. Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in EV batteries. “For the first time, lithium reserves have been discovered, and that too in Jammu and Kashmir,” Mines Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj said. Upon exploration by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), lithium reserves have been found in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, the mines ministry had said that to strengthen the critical mineral supply chain for emerging technologies, the government was taking several proactive measures to secure minerals, including lithium, from Australia and Argentina
Earlier, the mines ministry had said that to strengthen the critical mineral supply chain for emerging technologies, the government was taking several proactive measures to secure minerals, including lithium, from Australia and Argentina.
The government on Thursday said lithium reserves have been found for the first time in the country in Jammu and Kashmir. Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in EV batteries. “For the first time, lithium reserves have been discovered, and that too in Jammu and Kashmir,” Mines Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj said. Upon exploration by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), lithium reserves have been found in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, the mines ministry had said that to strengthen the critical mineral supply chain for emerging technologies, the government was taking several proactive measures to secure minerals, including lithium, from Australia and Argentina
What is lithium?
Lithium is a light metal. Its density is lower than that of water, so it can actually float. It was not formed naturally on earth but is a cosmic metal.
Lithium is a highly reactive metal which means that it can hold a lot of energy. Howstuffworks.com points out that using lead-acid technology, it takes 6 kg to store the same amount of energy that a 1 kg lithium-ion battery can handle.
Also, lithium can hold its charge for longer. A Lithium-ion battery loses only 5% charge per month compared with 20% loss in a Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh) battery. And Lithium can withstand thousands of recharge cycles.
How is it formed
It was likely the only metal produced in the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago, according to Cosmos Magazine.
It points out that some scientists believe that when high-energy cosmic rays slam into heavier elements like carbon and oxygen in interstellar space, breaking them up into lighter atoms, lithium could have been created. In 2020, astronomers discovered that a certain type of red giant stars also become lithium factories at the end of their lives, based on a survey of hundreds of thousands of stars.
However, the estimate in Kashmir is only in the ‘inferred’ category which means, we have some ways to go – seven years in the best-case scenario! – before India can mine the lithium there. This estimate was arrived at during a preliminary survey or G3.
Prior to this was the G4 or the reconnaisance survey. After further exploration, the exact reserves will be determined and actual mining could start. Till then, Lithium imports from Australia will have to continue. The India-Australia FTA allows for the duty-free import of Lithium.
Why is the J&K inferred reserve such a big deal for India? If lithium can be used to replace fuel ultimately, it is possible that Jammu and Kashmir are sitting on a “gold mine” and could be the next UAE!