On 9 February 2023, Indian government announced that the first ever Lithium reserves has been found in Reasi district of Jammu, J&K.
According to Geological Survey of India (GSI), “For the first time in India’s history, Lithium deposits of 5.9 million tones have been found.”
Before moving ahead, Lets know what Lithium is?
Lithium is a chemical element that occurs in the alkalis of the periodic table. It is a non-ferrous metal that is present in the earth crust in 65 ppm (Parts Per Million).
It is one of the key component in the production of EV batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in portable electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops and also have significant use for grid-scale energy storage and military and aerospace applications.
Will this discovery change India’s EV Future?
The discovery of lithium deposits in a country can have a significant impact on the production of electric vehicles (EVs). Lithium is a key component in the production of lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in EVs due to their high energy density and long cycle life. The availability of domestic lithium supplies can lower the cost of battery production, reduce the dependence on imports while increasing the competitiveness of the local EV industry.
As India is seeing an increasing trend in day-to-day use of electric vehicles like electric scooters, electric cars and various state transport corporation are using electric vehicles as a mode of public transport. This is a positive change as it will help to reduce the carbon emissions as more and more electric vehicles are used they will replace vehicles running on fossil fuels decreasing the level of pollution and will also be more affordable for normal citizens as the cost per unit for operating electric vehicle is less then vehicles using traditional combustible engines.
The discovery of this lithium deposit has positive impact on new as well as existing EV manufacturers, as availability of domestic lithium will affects the cost of production. Industries Like Reliance, Ola Electric Mobility, Bullion refiner etc. have already shown interest in production of Electric vehicles.
India is one of the largest importer of Lithium in the world, most of the Lithium was imported from China, Japan and United Kingdom. But this discovery is being seen as a major step forward for India’s efforts to promote electric mobility and reduce its carbon footprint. These deposits play an important role in achieving the target of having 30% of vehicles be electric by 2023.
In 62nd Central Geological Programming board meeting, officials said that “whether it is a mobile phone or solar panel, critical minerals are required everywhere. In order to become self-reliant, it is very important for the country to find out critical minerals and process it.”
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this discovery will have significant impact on our country’s economy and will greatly increase the production of electronic vehicles by lowering the cost of battery production,while creating new job opportunities, and contribute to the country’s competitiveness in the global market for EVs.