Jharkhand’s lithium discovery all set to power India’s EV industry expansion
03 Oct 2023 17:56:18
Jharkhand, which used to export mica to the globe, is again in the news...this time for lithium deposits, the "cosmic" material required as part of the country's energy security goals. Lithium is widely regarded as a game-changing mineral for achieving zero-carbon greenenergy targets in the next years.
The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) discovered in a geological survey that Koderma and Giridih in Jharkhand had huge quantities of numerous rare minerals besides lithium.
The Geological Survey of India has discovered 1600 tonnes of lithium deposits in Karnataka and 59 lakh tonnes of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi area. Apart from Koderma and Giridih in Jharkhand, work is now being done to explore the possibility of lithium extraction in East Singhbhum and Hazaribagh.
Geochemical mapping in and around the Tilaiya block of Jharkhand's Koderma district indicated large amounts of lithium, cesium, and other minerals. Currently, the country's electric car sector is entirely reliant on imports for its lithium needs. Currently, lithium is primarily sourced from China.
The central government has set a goal of increasing EV use by 30% by 2030. The most important mineral for achieving this aim is lithium. As a result, the government has placed a special emphasis on the prospect of lithium exploration.
After Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir, lithium deposits in Jharkhand are seen as critical for the future.
According to the GSI survey, there is a chance of deposits of metals such as Li (Li),Cesium, REE, and RM in Gawan block of Giridih and Pihra belt of Koderma, in addition to Lithium in Tilaiya block of Koderma and Dhodhakola-Kusuma belt of Jharkhand.
Experts believe that if India becomes self-sufficient in lithium manufacturing, electric batteries would become cheaper, lowering the price of electric vehicles.
Large quantities of valuable minerals in the state have also offered enormous opportunities for the country's battery-based electric car sector. It is utilized in medical technology, the electronics sector, mobile phones, solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable technologies in addition to electric cars.
The Geological Survey of India has discovered 1600 tonnes of lithium deposits in Karnataka and 59 lakh tonnes of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi area. Apart from Koderma and Giridih in Jharkhand, work is now being done to explore the possibility of lithium extraction in East Singhbhum and Hazaribagh.
Geochemical mapping in and around the Tilaiya block of Jharkhand's Koderma district indicated large amounts of lithium, cesium, and other minerals. Currently, the country's electric car sector is entirely reliant on imports for its lithium needs. Currently, lithium is primarily sourced from China.
The central government has set a goal of increasing EV use by 30% by 2030. The most important mineral for achieving this aim is lithium. As a result, the government has placed a special emphasis on the prospect of lithium exploration.
After Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir, lithium deposits in Jharkhand are seen as critical for the future.
According to the GSI survey, there is a chance of deposits of metals such as Li (Li),Cesium, REE, and RM in Gawan block of Giridih and Pihra belt of Koderma, in addition to Lithium in Tilaiya block of Koderma and Dhodhakola-Kusuma belt of Jharkhand.
On September 29, the Geological Council of the Government of Jharkhand conducted a high-level meeting on the subject. The state government has begun investigating the feasibility of lithium mining in the state, and investors have expressed interest.
Pan Asia Metals Ltd Chairman-cum-Managing Director Paul Lock met with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in June to examine the possibility of investing in lithium mining in the state. Soren stated that the state administration will work on the potential of lithium production in accordance with the rules.