DOT Desk: India has announced its first significant discovery of reserves of lithium in its Jammu region, a rare mineral crucial for manufacturing electric vehicles, reports BBC.The government said on Thursday that 5.9 million tonnes of the mineral had been discovered in Jammu and Kashmir. So far, India has depended on Australia and Argentina for lithium imports,reports TBS.
The Geological Survey of India has also found five blocks of gold and 7.8 billion tonnes of solid mineral fuels like coal and lignite as part of its discovery of 51 blocks of minerals across the country since 2018, the Hindustan Times reported yesterday.
Lithium is a key component in rechargeable batteries that power numerous gadgets like smartphones and laptops, as well as electric cars.Experts say that the discovery could aid India’s push to increase the number of private electric cars by 30% by 2030, as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions to tackle global warming.The Geological Survey of India found the lithium reserves in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir, India’s Ministry of Mines said.