INDIA’S LEAP INTO LITHIUM SELF-RELIANCE

India is set to establish its first large-scale battery-grade lithium refinery. The Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) and Hyderabad-based Altmin have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up this strategic facility in Telangana.

I. The Project:

• Partners: Joint Venture between Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) (jointly owned by Telangana Govt & GOI) and Altmin.
• Location: Telangana.
• Capacity: 30,000 tonnes-per-annum (TPA) of lithium carbonate.
• Target Timeline: Operations to commence by 2027.
• Objective: To localise lithium refining, secure long-term raw material supply from overseas, and support India’s EV and energy storage ecosystem.

II. Strategic Significance

• Import Substitution: Reduces dependency on imported battery-grade materials (currently dominated by China).
• Critical Mineral Supply Chain: Positions Telangana at the forefront of India’s transition to clean energy.
• Energy Security: Ensures a steady supply of raw materials for the “Make in India” EV sector.

Lithium (The ‘White Gold’)

1. What is Lithium?

• Nature: A non-ferrous, soft, silvery-white alkali metal.
• Properties:
  • Lightest solid element (least dense metal) under standard conditions.
  • Highly Reactive: Must be stored in vacuum, inert atmosphere, or mineral oil (like kerosene).
  • Electrochemical Potential: High electrochemical potential makes it ideal for batteries.
• Occurrence: Never occurs freely in nature. Found in Pegmatitic minerals (hard rock) and Brines (saline groundwater/ocean water).

2. Global Landscape: Reserves vs. Production

• The Lithium Triangle: Holds ~54% of global reserves. Comprises Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.
• Top Reserves (Resource Base):
  • Bolivia
  • Argentina
  • Chile
• Top Producers (Extraction):
  • Australia (Hard rock mining)
  • Chile (Brine extraction)
  • China

3. Lithium in India

• Status: Classified as a “Critical and Strategic Mineral” under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023.
• Known Reserves:
  • Reasi District (Jammu & Kashmir): 5.9 million tonnes (inferred resources).
  • Mandya (Karnataka): Smaller reserves.
• Potential Belts: Mica belts of Rajasthan, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh; Pegmatite belts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh; Rann of Kutch (Gujarat).

4. Government Initiatives for Security

• KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Ltd): A JV of three CPSEs (NALCO, HCL, MECL) to identify and acquire overseas mineral assets (e.g., in Argentina).
• Mineral Security Partnership (MSP): India recently joined this US-led alliance to secure critical mineral supply chains.
• Auctioning: The government has started auctioning critical mineral blocks to the private sector.

5. Applications & Concerns

• Uses: Li-ion batteries (EVs, mobiles), Alloys (with Al/Mg for aerospace), Thermonuclear reactions, CO2 absorption (in spacecraft/submarines).
• Environmental Concerns: High water footprint (especially in brine extraction), chemical pollution, and energy-intensive processing.

Q with respect to the properties and occurrence of Lithium, consider the following statements:

1. It is the lightest solid element under standard conditions and possesses a high electrochemical potential.
2. Due to its high reactivity, it is naturally found in its pure metallic form within pegmatite belts.
3. It serves a critical function in carbon dioxide absorption systems in confined environments like spacecraft.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

 (a) 1 and 2 only

 (b) 1 and 3 only

 (c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

ANS.B

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Lithium is described as the least dense solid element with high electrochemical potential, making it ideal for batteries.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Lithium never occurs freely in nature; it is found in pegmatitic minerals or brines.
• Statement 3 is correct: The text confirms its use in CO2 removal and air purification in spacecraft and submarines.