The Indian government has announced that 5.9 million tons of lithium, a crucial mineral for the manufacturing of electric vehicles and solar panels, had been discovered in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It was the first major discovery of lithium, with the only other reserves being a small deposit of 1600 tons discovered in Karnataka two years ago.
Up to this point, the country had depended on Australia, Chile, and Argentina for any imports of lithium needed for its manufacturing sector. Mines secretary Vivek Bharadwaj told reporters that the lithium deposit will help India become “aatmanirbhar,” a slogan often promoted by prime minister Narendra Modi that means self-reliant. And the discovery is certainly a critical milestone in India’s quest to become a global manufacturing leader, coming just days after the US Secretary of Commerce announced plans for a strategic partnership between the two countries to boost competition against China.
To put the size of the deposit in perspective, the lithium from this discovery alone means India now has the fifth-largest lithium reserves in the world, just ahead of the United States. However, refining lithium ore into a mineral that can be used to make batteries is a complex process, meaning India will have to rely on imports for at least a few more years.
