The Indian government’s Ministry of Mines said the Geological Survey of India found lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes. The find is in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi District of Jammu & Kashmir (UT).
“Inferred resources” is a United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Energy and Mineral Resources grading and G3 is the lowest but one grade meaning “Prospecting”. It is based on geological evidence and limited sampling but not yet verified.
Analysts said this find, if realised, will help India be less dependent on importing lithium for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries.
JMK Research & Analytics, a market research and advisory firm focussing on Indian renewables, e-mobility and battery storage, estimates that the annual lithium-ion battery market in India will reach 116GWh in 2030.
Photo: (on left) Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Mines
