Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL), a state-owned entity under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, has initiated an agreement with Argentinan miner CAMYEN. This agreement revolves around the potential acquisition and development of five lithium blocks. Furthering its exploration efforts, KABIL has also signed a non-disclosure agreement with Chilean miner ENAMI for possible exploration, extraction, processing, and commercialisation of the mineral.
Understanding Lithium: The ‘White Gold’
Commonly referred to as ‘white gold’, Lithium is an alkali mineral. Its appearance is characterised by a soft, silvery-white metal, and it holds the title of being the lightest metal on the Periodic Table. Key properties of Lithium include high reactivity, low density, and superb electrochemical attributes.
Occurrence and Top Producers of Lithium
Lithium primarily exists in various naturally occurring minerals, such as spodumene, petalite, and lepidolite. The extraction process involves refining these minerals into either Lithium metal or its compounds. Major contributors to the global production of Lithium are Australia, Chile, China, and Argentina. As of 2022, Australia is leading the world in Lithium mining production, followed closely by Chile and China.
Recently, an estimated reserve of 18 million tons of Lithium was discovered beneath California’s Salton Sea in the United States. Additionally, the ‘Lithium triangle’ comprising Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia is believed to hold approximately half of the world’s known Lithium reserves.
Applications of Lithium
Due to its unique properties, Lithium has diverse applications across industries. It serves as a critical component in rechargeable batteries used in smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and many other electronics. Lithium compounds are also used to fortify glass and ceramics, making them more resistant to heat and damage. In the medical field, Lithium is employed as a mood stabiliser for treating bipolar disorder. For high-pressure and high-temperature applications, Lithium-based greases are preferred.
Unearthing Lithium Potential in India
In 2023, India made significant advancements with the discovery of substantial Lithium reserves in the Salal-Haimna areas of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir (estimated at 5.9 million tonnes). More reserves were identified in Koderma and Giridih regions of Jharkhand.
However, India has been auctioning its lithium blocks, one in Jammu & Kashmir and another in Chhattisgarh. To meet national requirements across various sectors like electric vehicles, lithium-ion battery production, and other energy storage solutions, India continued to depend heavily on imports. The import bill was reported at approximately ₹24,000 crore.
Did You Know?
A question involving Lithium was asked in the 2008 UPSC Civil Services Examination. The question queried about the lightest and heaviest metals. The correct answer confirmed Lithium as the lightest metal and Osmium as the heaviest.