Lithium

Congress slams govt over 're-exploration' of J&K lithium reserves

The Congress on Saturday took a swipe at the Centre over the Geological Survey of India reportedly asked to conduct a re-exploration of the lithium reserves discovered in Jammu and Kashmir, saying this is typical of the way the "headline-obsessed" Modi government functions. Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said it was a case of premature celebration. "Aap yeh chronology samajhiye: On February 13, 2023 the Modi government announced 'in typically grand fashion' the discovery of what it called one of the world's largest known lithium reserves in J&K. In November 2023, first auctions were conducted. The minimum requirement of three bids was not met and the auction was cancelled," Ramesh said in a post on X. In March 2024, a second round of auctions was announced but in July 2024 it was revealed this had not attracted even a single bid, he pointed out. In October 2024, the Geological Survey of India was directed to conduct a re-exploration of what had ..

J&K's 5.9 mn tonne lithium reserve to be re-explored after failed auction

Aim is to reach at least G2 level of exploration before putting the block up for auction again

Thousands protest in Serbia over crackdown on anti-lithium activists

Several thousand people rallied Sunday in the Serbian capital, accusing the populist government of cracking down on environmental activists opposed to a large European Union-backed lithium excavation project planned in the Balkan country. The protest outside the headquarters of the state RTS television station in central Belgrade comes after tens of thousands rallied in recent weeks against the opening of the lithium mine in western Serbia. The state-controlled TV station is accused of ignoring the detentions of anti-lithium excavation activists. Environmental organizations reported detentions of dozens of their activists after a big rally last month in Belgrade and elsewhere in Serbia, saying their homes were searched, laptops and phones confiscated while many faced threats on social media. Activist Nina Stojanovic told the crowd on Sunday that a total of 30 to 60 people have been detained or questioned in the past two months throughout Serbia. We are here to protect everyone, to

CIL actively pursuing acquisition of critical minerals, says chairman

Coal India on Wednesday said it is actively pursuing acquisition of critical minerals, including lithium, in the domestic market and overseas and stressed that it would continue to take part in the auction of such blocks. Critical minerals, including lithium, play a crucial role in the production of clean energy technologies, from wind turbines to electric cars. They are particularly in demand for the production of batteries for electric cars. "With an objective to reduce the import dependence of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, CIL is actively pursuing acquisition of these mineral assets in India and abroad," Coal India Ltd (CIL) Chairman P M Prasad said during 50th Annual General Meeting of the company. CIL, he said, will continue to participate in e-auction of critical mineral blocks offered by the mines ministry. CIL has successfully opened its account in domestic critical mineral asset, emerging as the preferred bidder for Khattali Chotti graphite block in Alirajpur ..

India to open its 1st lithium mines in Chhattisgarh after GSI confirmation

Lithium, one of the 23 proposed exploration projects, is considered crucial for producing lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, which are in increasing demand

Centre to offer financial support to boost critical minerals sector growth

The focus of this initiative is to help find ways to develop extraction technology and better methods of beneficiation

Residents of Serbia's lithium-rich region pledge to block EU-backed mining

Zlatko Kokanovic does not want a lithium mine in his backyard and he will do anything he can to stop it from opening. All of us here, we are ready to lose our lives," the 48-year farmer told The Associated Press. "They can shoot. That is the only way they can open the mine. At stake is a lush farming valley in western Serbia that holds one of Europe's richest deposits of lithium, a precious metal that is used to make batteries for electric cars and is crucial for the global transition to green energy. Whether there should be a mine in the valley or not has become one of the most contentious issues in the Balkan nation, triggering protests by thousands of people in a challenge to the populist President Aleksandar Vucic. While the government insists the mine is an opportunity for economic development, critics say it would inflict irreparable pollution on the Jadar valley, along with underground water reserves, farm land and two small rivers that run through the valley. Thousands are

Govt scraps auction of 3 mineral blocks, including lithium mine in J-K

The government has scrapped the auction of three critical mineral blocks, including a lithium mine in Jammu and Kashmir, under the third tranche of sale of mines due to a lower-than-required number of bidders. The auction is a part of the government's push towards cleaner alternatives and self-reliance in critical mineral supplies. The three blocks are Salal-Haimna Lithium, Titanium and Bauxite (Aluminous Laterite) Block in Jammu and Kashmir, Muskaniya-Gareriatola-Barwari Potash block in Jharkhand and Kurunjakulam Graphite block in Tamil Nadu. The auction was annulled as the "required number of bids as per the mineral auction rules have not been received", according to a notice by the Mines Ministry. The ministry, on March 14, put on sale seven critical mineral blocks in the third round of auction. The blocks that received less than three bids in the first tranche were notified under this round. These seven blocks pertain to critical minerals such as Glauconite, Graphite, Nickel,

Budget 2024: FinMin announces Critical Mineral Mission; what we know so far

Union Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government will soon conduct the first round of offshore mineral auction round under the Critical Mineral Mission

Customs duty exemption on lithium, cobalt to aid EV sector growth: Auto Inc

The proposed exemption in customs duty on import of lithium, cobalt and other rare minerals in the Union Budget 2024-25 is likely to lower the battery production cost and help in making electric vehicles more affordable for the buyers, auto industry leaders said on Tuesday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget for 2024-25 proposed to fully exempt customs duties on 25 critical minerals and reduce Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on two of them. "This will provide a major fillip to the processing and refining of such minerals and help secure their availability for these strategic and important sectors," she noted. Minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements are critical for sectors like nuclear energy, renewable energy, space, defence, telecommunications, and high-tech electronics, Sitharaman stated. Auto industry body SIAM President Vinod Aggarwal said the exemption of customs duty on import of lithium, cobalt and other rare minerals and

India can be key partner in diversifying critical mineral supply chains: US

India has the potential to be a key partner in diversifying critical mineral supply chains globally, a senior US official has said at a conference that discussed the potential and opportunities to advance the respective clean energy agendas of the two countries. The one of its kind round table organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) along with Silverado Policy Accelerator and Principal to Principal Strategies (P2P) discussed fortifying both nations' economic interests. The demand for key minerals, such as graphite, manganese, and lithium will continue to play a vital role in the electric vehicles (EV) space and will help India work towards its net zero vision in 2070, a statement said here. The bilateral US-India energy relationship is one of the most consequential in the world India has the potential to be a key partner in diversifying critical mineral supply chains globally, US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey Pyatt said at an ...

J&K lithium block fails to secure bids in 2nd attempt as well: Report

The government in February 2023 found its first lithium deposits in Jammu and Kashmir with estimated reserves of 5.9 million metric tons.

Argentina about to unleash four new projects to churn out lithium

So far in Argentina, the lithium industry has centered on the provinces of Jujuy, Salta and Catamarca

China hits back at West's over-capacity allegations in EVs, batteries

Li also said on Tuesday that he was confident the world's second-largest economy would hit its full-year economic growth target of around 5 per cent

Mines ministry asks Coal India, NMDC to look for lithium mines overseas

Ministry will lead a delegation to Zambia in June and later to Congo to explore joint ventures in critical minerals

Khanij Bidesh India likely to acquire lithium asset in Australia in FY25

Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) hopes to acquire a lithium block in Australia this year, a top official said on Saturday. KABIL, a joint venture of three PSUs to scout for mineral assets overseas, has been working in Australia for the last year, Mines secretary V L Kantha Rao said. "KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd) has the responsibility to look at other countries. We have to increase our efforts in Australia. We will have to ensure that during this financial year, we target one more asset," Rao said at the inauguration of the registered office of KABIL here. KABIL is owned by three public sector undertakings -- National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco), Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Ltd (MECL). "I am hoping that it should be Australia because we have been working (there) for the last year," he explained. But unlike Argentina, Australia would be a bit costly so the paid-up capital of KABIL will have to be increased. KABIL has a paid-up capital of R

Govt considers offering incentives for lithium processing: Report

Companies including SoftBank-backed e-scooter maker Ola Electric, and miner Vedanta Ltd and Jindal Power are among those bidding for critical minerals blocks, which include lithium

India seeks overseas help for lithium processing to avoid relying on China

New Delhi is in the process of auctioning its first mining rights to lithium blocks, which were discovered last year in the Jammu and Kashmir region and the states of Chhattisgarh

India to send delegations to Chile seeking lithium and copper assets

Chile is a key target as it is the world's biggest supplier of copper and the second-biggest producer of lithium, which are essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy systems

Here's why China's EV market and BYD show the future is already here

Battery metals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt are down by, respectively, 80%, 30%, and 25% over the past year