.jpg "Growth of Lithium Exploration in Response to EV Demand")
The Indian government has entered into an agreement with Argentina for lithium exploration in the South American nation. It seeks to delve into the supply of the rare element, which is necessary for the transformation towards a future which is 'environment-friendly'. The agreement has been signed between Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) and one of the the state-owned enterprises of Catamarca Province, Argentina.
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Prahlad Joshi wrote on X, "Under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodiji, the country achieves a new milestone in securing #CriticalMinerals4India India and Argentina sign an agreement for the exploration and mining of five lithium blocks in Argentina's Catamarca province."
The Indian EV sector is experiencing tremendous growth and that is the reason why lithium exploration programs are also growing in India.
The discovery of lithium deposits in Jammu & Kashmir and Chhattisgarh has turned out to be game changer for India in its journey for clean energy transition. This has not only excited India, but also has made promises for the global energy needs. Initial explorations in Mandya, Karnataka, uncovered close to 1,600 tonnes of lithium, with plans for commercial production. Through India's explorations in states like Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, the country showed commitment to usage of its own lithium at a same time when nations around the world are constantly looking to reduce the dependency on other nations for sourcing raw materials.
In this regard, it is necessary to understand the basic difference between resources and reserves. There is a simple thumb rule: 'All Reserves are Resources, but all Resources are not Reserves'. The associated economic value is intricately related to this. The definition of a reserve is the proven amount of any given mineral present in sufficient quantity that will have the capability to support commercial extraction within the prevailing 'modifying factors', i.e. the legal, environmental, social and technological factors that might affect or restrict the process of extraction.
Lithium-bearing pegmatites in India are highly confined to Precambrian rocks, ranging from 1,345 to 950 million years ago. India is home to a spectrum of lithium deposits, including spodumene-bearing pegmatites, lithium micas, and lithium-enriched clays. All deposit types pose unique challenges in extraction and opportunities. Lithium also occurs in brines of several closed basins in our country where lithium compounds are precipitated in the late stage of evaporation.
To give examples,the two notable lithium discoveries that have been able to put India under the limelight are the Salal-Haimna Lithium, Titanium and Bauxite (Aluminous Laterite) Block, and the Katghora Lithium and Rare Earth Elements (REE) Block.
To understand the significance of the lithium deposits, one needs to first understand the levels of mineral exploration. According to the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC), exploration stages are designated using the labels G4, G3, G2, and G1 levels. Each level represents a progressive step in exploration, from initial identification to a detailed understanding of resource potential (UNFC, 2016).
Going forward, the government must look at incentivizing the private mining sector and startups that are interested in lithium exploration. It should build the supply chain across the upstream, midstream and downstream arenas. India must also look at partnering with countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, Indonesia and South Korea in order to strengthen the global lithium supply chain management and reduce all possible strategic vulnerabilities.
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