India is set to launch its first lithium mines in the Katghora region of Korba district, Chhattisgarh, following confirmation of significant lithium deposits by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The decision to proceed with mining was announced during the sixth governing body meeting of the National Mineral Exploration Trust in New Delhi on Monday.

The GSI reported lithium concentrations ranging from 10 to 2,000 parts per million (PPM) across an area of approximately 250 hectares, with the potential for even higher content. This discovery represents a crucial step in securing critical minerals domestically, especially lithium, which is essential for producing lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.

The meeting, chaired by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, discussed strategies for the extraction and utilisation of these minerals, emphasising the need to balance economic development with environmental conservation.

State Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, representing Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, highlighted the importance of this development. He stated, "Lithium is currently a crucial metal that will lead the state and country towards new dimensions of development. With the commencement of the lithium mine in the state, Chhattisgarh will become one of the leading states in the country to contribute much more to the vision of a developed India by 2047."

In conjunction with this development, the Ministry of Mines has issued a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) on the MSTC portal for the allocation of 20 critical and strategic mineral blocks through e-auction. These blocks are located in states such as Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh, including the lithium and Rare Earth Element (REE) block in Katghora.

According to officials from the state mining department, preliminary surveys by the GSI have confirmed lithium content in the Katghora block, which also contains rare earth elements. Lithium is among the 23 exploration proposals submitted by the state, reflecting its critical role in industries such as renewable energy, defence, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, high-tech electronics, telecommunications, and transportation. Currently, India relies heavily on imports of these essential minerals.

Chhattisgarh has experienced significant growth in mineral revenue, generating approximately ₹13,000 crore in 2023-24, nearly 30 times more than the revenue generated in the year of the state's formation. The discovery and upcoming exploitation of lithium resources are expected to further enhance the state's economic contributions.

Image source: The Economic Times