New Delhi, India - The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has made a historic discovery, finding lithium deposits in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi District in Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry of Mines has stated that these lithium resources have the potential to propel India's electric car initiatives forward, with a total of 5.9 million tonnes of inferred resources (G3) now available.
The government has been heavily investing in electric cars, particularly in metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, and this discovery of lithium deposits could not have come at a better time. In addition to the lithium deposits, 51 mineral blocks have been handed over to the state governments, including 5 blocks for gold and other minerals like potash, molybdenum, and base metals.
This financial year, the GSI is taking on 966 programs, including 318 mineral exploration projects and 12 marine mineral investigation projects. The government has emphasized the exploration of strategic and critical minerals, including fertiliser minerals. The GSI has formulated 115 projects on strategic and critical minerals and 16 projects on fertiliser minerals, along with 55 programs on geoinformatics and 155 programs for training and institutional capacity building.
The Geological Survey of India was established in 1851 to locate coal deposits for the Indian Railways. However, it has now transformed into a comprehensive repository of geo-science information and is at the forefront of India's mineral discovery initiatives.
This discovery of lithium deposits is expected to have a significant impact on the growth of India's electric car industry and boost the country's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
Lithium
Lithium is a critical component in the production of batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). Lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in EVs, have a high energy density and long cycle life compared to other types of batteries, making them an ideal choice for electric vehicles. The high energy density of lithium-ion batteries allows for a longer driving range, while the long cycle life means that the battery can be charged and discharged many times over its lifespan.