India has made a significant discovery of lithium, a rare element crucial for producing electric vehicles, in Jammu and Kashmir. The Geological Survey of India found 5.9 million tonnes of lithium in the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi district. This discovery could aid India’s goal of increasing the production of electric cars by 30% by 2030 to reduce carbon emissions and tackle global warming. So far, India has relied on imports from Australia and Argentina for lithium.
Lithium is a main component in various gadgets like smartphones, laptops, and electric cars that uses rechargeable batteries. With the world moving towards cleaner and sustainable alternative solutions, demand for lithium and other rare metals has increased. This discovery could help to boost new technologies in India due to the improvement in the supply of rare metals. Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, stated that India has been “re-orienting its exploration measures” to meet this goal.
However, the process of mining lithium is not environmentally friendly. Hard rocks and subterranean brine pools found primarily in Australia, Chile, and Argentina are used to extract Lithium. The extraction process roasts the landscape, leaving behind scars and releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The process also requires a lot of water, a concern in water-scarce areas like Argentina. Indigenous communities have protested against the activity, saying it is overwhelming natural resources and leading to acute water shortages.
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The World Bank has stated the need to increase minerals mining by about 500% to meet the 2050 global targets. Therefore, the discovery of lithium deposits in India is a positive step towards achieving this target. However, the Indian government must find ways to extract lithium in an environmentally responsible manner, ensuring that the extraction process does not affect the ecosystem of the area and the local communities.
The discovery of lithium deposits in India could help the country achieve its goals of boosting new technologies and reducing carbon emissions. However, the extraction process must be carried out in an environmentally responsible manner to ensure that negative environmental impacts do not offset the positive impact of the discovery.
