India finds its first major lithium deposit in J&K: 5.9 million tonnes in Reasi

In what could be a major boost for India's domestic electric vehicle industry, a major deposit of lithium has been found in Jammu and Kashmir.

This is the first instance of the mineral being found in significant quantities in India. Earlier, a small deposit had been found in Karnataka, as per reports.

5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves have been found in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi district by the Geological Survey of India, the government said on 9 February 2023.

Lithium is a key component in electric vehicle batteries.

Earlier, the mines ministry had said that to strengthen the critical mineral supply chain for emerging technologies, the government was taking several proactive measures to secure minerals, including lithium, from Australia and Argentina.

Currently, India is import-dependent for many minerals like lithium, nickel and cobalt.

(With PTI inputs)

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