Bilal Bashir Bhat
Today Jammu & Kashmir is discussed on a global level unexpectedly on a different subject, in light of the fact that 5.9 million tons of lithium stores have been found in its Reasi district.
Geological Survey of India has for the first time established 5.9 million tonnes inferred resources (G3) of lithium in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi District of Jammu & Kashmir (UT).@GeologyIndia
1/2 pic.twitter.com/tH5uv2BL9m
— Ministry Of Mines (@MinesMinIndia) February 9, 2023
“Geological Survey of India has for the first time established 5.9 million tons inferred resources (G3) of lithium in Salal-Haimana area of Reasi District of Jammu & Kashmir (UT),” the ministry of Mines, Government of India tweets on Thursday, February 9, 2023.
It is now clear that deposits of mineral-rich, precious, and important metal lithium have been found in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the first lithium deposit in the country, identified by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in Reasi district.
Lithium, which is utilized in batteries for gadgets like electric vehicles and cell phones is imported from Australia and Argentina. It is imperative that before this revelation, India just had a little store of 1,600 tons of lithium, which was found a long time back in Karnataka. The lithium from this discovery alone means that India now has the fifth largest lithium reserves in the world.
To comprehend this we need to dive deep into this theme. It is a rapidly changing international environmental situation and multi-purpose industrial requirements to make its place according to the requirements of the modern age. Globally, Lithium is known as the “oil of the future ” because of its lightweight metal and naturally agreeable energy contrasted with oil.
Furthermore, presently it is not generally a secret mystery that the world, stressed over worldwide air contamination, is hoping to end the utilization of oil. Notwithstanding, the fast decrease in oil holds in the countries, including Saudi Arabia, has likewise constrained the world to meet up to track down a trade for oil.
SIGNIFICANCE
After this startling expansion in worldwide lithium utilization, one normally asks why the interest in this metal is duplicating for the time being. Its viability can be measured from the information delivered by the US Topographical Review in an exploration report that shows the proceeded expansion in global lithium creation.
Total creation in 1995 was 6500 tons, in 2015 it reaches 32500 tons and in 2020 it touches 345000 tons. According to experts, this production will reach 20 lakh tons in the next few years.
Each country is attempting to accomplish climate cordial energy. Subject matter authorities agree lithium is the best wellspring of green economy energy. While oil-fueled vehicles are being considered the significant reason for air contamination everywhere, the pattern of assembling electric vehicles is acquiring ubiquity.
According to an estimate, 65% of lithium is used in these renewable batteries, 18% in the ceramics and glass industry, 3% in the polymer industry, and 14% in grease and other miscellaneous industries.
China as of late guaranteed that by 2030, 40 percent of the world’s vehicles will change to electric frameworks. As per a new report by United Statistical surveying, the interest in lithium-particle vehicles will reach $46 million by 2022. As of late, the widely popular businessperson Elon Musk has declared that he is expanding the creation of the electric vehicle Tesla, for which he has begun work on a colossal plant in the Nevada desert of the US for the development of lithium batteries for these vehicles.
Elon Musk has additionally reported that we will require no less than 500,000 batteries for these vehicles all through the year for which we will require lithium importation from around the world.
Latin America alone holds 56% of the world’s lithium savings. These are amassed in Bolivia, Argentina, Chile (the ‘Lithium Triangle’), and Brazil. Bolivia’s 21 million tons are basically undiscovered, and keeping in mind that Argentina takes advantage of 2.2 million of its complete assets of 19 million tons, there is clearly space for development. Aside from this Mexico likewise has 7.1 million tons.
The actual US has more lithium holds with 1.9 million tons, however, its ongoing mineable stores are just 750,000 tons. Assets for this situation allude to known stores of lithium while mineable stores are those that are as of now being removed and taken advantage of.
Kashmir’s discovery will assist India in becoming independent
Currently, India is import-dependent on many minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Fifty percent of the deposits are concentrated in three South American countries – Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.
In order to become self-reliant, it is very important for the country to find out critical minerals and also process them, exploitation of lithium deposits in the Reasi district will reduce the country’s dependence on imports. The discovery will also help the Indian government meet its recent pledge to increase the number of private electric cars by 30 percent by 2030.
Writer Bilal Bashir Bhat is the editor of the local Urdu daily Srinagar Jang.
