INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: A lot rides on lithium in the age of electric mobility and personal devices
But the lightest metal known to humans is also famously scarce
Hence, the discovery of lithium deposits in Jammu and Kashmir could come as a potential game changer for India.There, but rareOn February 9,
the Geological Survey of India (GSI) announced that lithium reserves have been found for the first time in India, in Jammu and Kashmir
In its pure elemental form it is a soft, silvery-white metal, but is highly reactive and therefore never found like this in nature
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) says lithium occurs in most rocks as a trace element, substituting for magnesium in common
Summaries, 2022, identified lithium resources globally have been revised to 80 million tonne
However, reserves from which the element can be accessed as on date is pegged at just over 22 million with Chile leading at 9.2 million
It is inferred from geological evidence and assumed but not verified.The United Nations Framework Classification for Fossil Fuel says that
with the exception of past production that may be measured, quantities are always estimated and there will be a degree of uncertainty
scenario is equivalent to the combination of the high confidence and moderate confidence estimates (G1+G2)
means the project is still at an exploratory stage, which is mostly the case in India, according to the Union ministry of mines and
coals.India needs core competenciesThe introduction of Lithium-ion Batteries (LiB) has revolutionised numerous sectors, most prominently the
The adoption of LiB is accelerating in India
Specialist consultancy firm for renewable energy JMK Research estimates that the annual LiB market in India will reach 116 GWh in 2030, with
EVs accounting for around 90% of the overall market on the back of huge government targets of adding variable renewable energy sources to
the grid.Of the total cost of LiBs, cells account for 65%, battery pack 15%, battery management system(BMS) 15% and the balance being the
outer box, as per JMK Research.So far, battery packs and associated BMS manufacturing have entirely dominated the space in India and Indian
manufacturers are able to produce most of the sub-components that go in a battery pack while thermal pads still need to be
imported.Similarly, BMS and outer box are also primarily supplied by the Indian battery pack assemblers
successfully developed and qualified lithium ion cells of capacities ranging from 1.5Ah to 100Ah.After successful deployment of the
indigenous lithium ion batteries in various satellites and launch vehicle missions, Isro dedicated to transfer this technology to the
industries to establish production facilities to cover the entire spectrum of power storage requirements of the country.The Centre has a
target of ensuring at least 30% of new vehicle registrations to be the electric ones by 2030
lithium-ion cells.In April 2021, the Centre doubled import duty on lithium-ion cells to 10% and later announced a Production-linked
Incentives (PLI) scheme, including financial allocations for Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries under the National Programme for
Advanced Chemistry Cell (NPACC), for automobiles and auto components.
