Lithium News

India is ramping up infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir with dual-use roads, railways, waterways, and hydro projects to support both civilians and the military. A renewed push to tap lithium reserves in Reasi includes plans to auction two new blocks by 2025.

The draft Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2025 includes provisions to levy penalties as a percentage of the performance guarantee–paid by successful bidders to states–for delaying the exploration activity beyond four months after getting the contract.

Policies are in place but headway needs to be made. Amid a global scramble, the country should work towards a resilient circular supply chain for highly sought-after inputs—especially rare earths.

While India ranks third in the world for rare earth reserves, the US holds the seventh position.

The Union cabinet has approved a national critical mineral mission with an outlay of ₹34,300 crore. Given how we’re staring at a phase of geopolitical flux, self-reliance here makes eminent sense.

Mineral and metal mines in the developing world are caught up in tensions over profits, and host countries are increasingly using force to get a bigger share.

US suspects Rio Tinto’s project in Serbia has been hit by a Russian disinformation campaign

The metal, which is used to make batteries for both gadgets and electric vehicles, has been on a roller-coaster ride in recent years.

A fleet of new lithium mines are set to open across Europe in the next few years as the European Union pushes to increase supply of the metal deemed vital for the energy transition in a bid to combat China’s grip on the market.