Geological Survey of India (GSI) has for the first time established Lithium inferred resources (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi District of Jammu & Kashmir (UT).
- This report along with 15 other resource bearing geological reports (G2 & G3 stage) and 35 Geological memorandums were handed over to respective state governments during the 62nd Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB) meeting held on 09th February 2023.
- Every year, as per approved annual Field Season Programme [FSP], GSI takes up different stages of mineral exploration viz. reconnaissance surveys (G4), preliminary exploration (G3) and general exploration (G2) following the guidelines of United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) and Mineral Evidence and Mineral Content Rules (MEMC-2015) for augmenting mineral resource for various mineral commodities including lithium.
- Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is used mainly in battery industry.
- Currently, India is import-dependent for many minerals like lithium, nickel and cobalt.
- The Government on 12.5.2021 approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for manufacturing of Advance Chemistry Cell (ACC) in the country.
- Argentina, Chile and Bolivia forms the so-called “Lithium Triangle”.
- Australia is the top lithium producer globally.
