All about lithium, the ‘cosmic’ mineral which could change India's fate

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has said India's first big lithium deposits have been found in Jammu & Kashmir. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has said India's first big lithium deposits have been found in Jammu & Kashmir.

Lithium is one of the most sought-after minerals globally

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Lithium is a cosmic element that formed from the bright stellar explosion

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Australia, Chile, and China respectively are the three biggest producers and exporters of lithium, a metal that has the power to not only change the fate of those who control it but also the fate of the world.

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India has found a new ray of hope in the global competitive market - a new untouched reserve of this precious metal.

"For the first time, lithium reserves have been discovered, and that too in Jammu and Kashmir," Mines Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj said. The reserve is estimated to be around 60 lakh tons.

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Previously, 1,600 tonnes of lithium reserves were found in Karnataka's Mandya district. However, it was not commercially viable.

With the demand for EVs increasing, the debate over global reserves of lithium has been gaining momentum. At the current rate of carbon emissions, the world will need at least 2 billion (200 crores) EVs, and according to the World Economic Forum (WEF), there could be a lithium shortage as soon as 2025.

The discovery could usher in a new era not only for India but also for the world

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