KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd), has obtained permission for carrying out non-invasive exploration in three out of the five recently acquired lithium blocks in Argentina.
- Post submission of a detailed report, the company will be allowed to start exploration activities across these blocks.
- Non-invasive mining exploration uses remote sensing and other techniques to identify and characterise mineralised systems without causing environmental damage.
Key points
- In January 2024, KABIL signed a lithium exploration pact for acquisition and subsequent commercial use of five blocks in Argentina.
- It signed an MoU with the Argentinian state-owned entity CAMYEN and acquired the lithium brine blocks, namely Cortadera-I, Cortadera-VII, Cortadera-VIII, Cateo-2022-01810132 and Cortadera-VI.
- The brine blocks cover an area of about 15,703 hectares in the Catamarca district of Argentina.
- The MoU states that there is a five-year time-frame given to KABIL within which exploration activities across these blocks have to start; failing which hefty fines have to be paid.
- Lithium, also called white gold, is amongst the key critical minerals for India’s green transition.
- The mineral finds extensive usage in energy storage solutions, mobile phones and electric vehicles (batteries). Despite discovery of some mines or sources in the country India is completely import reliant on lithium and lithium-based batteries.
