What ramifications does India's Finding Of Lithium In J&K have?

With the discovery of a sizable deposit of Lithium in India, which previously primarily depended on supplies for minerals from other nations, will now have optimism. How specifically is India dependent on Lithium imports? What are the uses and importance of Lithium? How the discovery of Lithium in Jammu & Kashmir will help India to be a game changer? Let's understand through this blog :)
What does Lithium mean?
Lithium is a chemical element which a soft and silvery-white alkali metal found underneath the land. It is used in several industrial applications such as glass & ceramics, grease lubricants, lithium-ion & metal batteries, and much more. To keep things simple and relatable, lithium can be noticed in Smartphones & other electronic gadgets, electric cars, etc. As the demand for Lithium is increasing at a rapid scale, the value is simultaneously increasing across the planet.
India's Discovery Of Lithium
As you might have seen in the news that Lithium reserves were discovered in Jammu & Kashmir, which is a great news. India's dependency on Lithium will surely be reduced by the import of EV batteries, smartphones, computers and of other electronic devices as around estimated 5.9 million tonnes of lithium deposits have been found in the Jammu & Kashmir region near the district named Reasi. The deposit could assist in supplying lithium to India's growing EV sector. Major technological breakthroughs since the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries in the 1990s have elevated lithium to the mainstream. India would not have to depend as heavily on imported products to fulfil its needs as it does at present if it owned its own lithium deposits. Today's demand for lithium would likely rise as more people become acquainted with electric automobiles.
On the planet, there are 98 million tonnes of lithium. Currently, India has found about 5.5% of all these minerals.
The lithium discovery in J&K might hold a considerable portion of lithium, but it's currently limited to compete towards the leading lithium reserves around the globe. This finding becomes even more significant because the vast majority of the world stockpile is situated in areas with acute water stress. India could serve as an alternative because the majority of the reserves are in countries having water constraints and the minerals need a great deal of water to be extracted.
Lithium Reserve Distribution
No doubt, lithium deposits found in J&K are significant in amount but if we compare it globally then still we are behind with many top lithium reserves. Talking about the data, Australia has around 6.2 million tonnes of lithium reserves, Bolivia has 21 million tonnes whereas Argentina has 17 million tonnes. The three countries of Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina are together known as what is known as the "Lithium Triangle" because South America is a region with a relatively ample amount of material. China also leads the globe in the manufacturing of electric automobiles, primarily, due to its upfront investment in Australia's primary mine production operations.
Uses of Lithium
The lightweight, basic, and highly reactive mineral lithium is primarily used in the production of lubricating oils, pharmaceuticals, air-conditioning, pottery and glasses, aluminium, as well as other items. This is an excellent choice for electrical vehicle makers including Tesla because of its greatest energy storage capacity each kg plus exceptionally lightweight.
Benefits & Challenges For India
As mentioned earlier, India is considered to have an upper hand in the process of the extraction of the mineral when compared with the other lithium-rich nations. Lithium isn't just utilised in EVs; it is also employed in the healthcare profession, in smartphone devices, in photovoltaic arrays, as well as other green technologies. The findings could bring about a new age for both India and the globe as a whole.
The Indian government needs to entice finance and economic expansion into a destabilised area where government authority is contested in order to harness these lithium riches. The found lithium deposits are located about 30 miles from the Line of Control, which divides Pakistan-controlled Azad (Free) Kashmir with India-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. Lithium extraction has significant environmental impacts that are simultaneously regional and extremely localised, with groundwater pollution being of great concern. And also where ethnic or religious minorities want independence or identity, significant building projects frequently serve as violent catalysts.
Conclusion
It is necessary to conduct impartial and rigorous analyses of lithium extraction operations' impacts on agricultural productivity since this industry has been vulnerable to climate change. We hope you loved this blog and are aware of the importance of lithium in the global market. Do share this blog with your friends and loved ones. Best Regards. Article by Ayush Maurya & Image Source: Unsplash.

Share this blog