Lok Sabha Question No. 501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-16
Subject: Shortage of Lithium and Cobalt
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Pratima Bhoumik, Sumedhanand Saraswati, Shivkumar Chanabasappa Udasi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-501

ANSWERED ON 16.09.2020

## SHORTAGE OF LITHIUM AND COBALT

501.  MS.PRATIMA BHOUMIK: SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH: SHRI SHIVAKUMAR C UDASI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  shortage  of  Lithium  and  Cobalt  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  shortage  of  Lithium  and  Cobalt  is  affecting  the production of electric vehicles;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the Government in this direction;
- (d) whether any survey has been conducted to find out Lithium and Cobalt mines in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government is considering to acquire overseas Lithium and Cobalt mines and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) As per the National Mineral Inventory as on 01.04.2015, estimated resources of Cobalt  ore  is  44.91  million  tonnes.  There  is  no  reported  production  of  Lithium  and Cobalt ore/mineral in the country. There is scarcity of these minerals.

(b)  & (c) As informed by Ministry of Heavy Industry no such record is available. (d) Geological Survey of India (GSI) is engaged in mineral exploration project for multimetal  elements  including  Lithium  and  Cobalt  as  a  part  of  annual  field  season programme in various States of the country. The details on previous field seasons for the period 2018-19, 2019-20 and current field season of 2020-21are given below:

|   Sl. | State                 | FS year   | District              | Name of Mineral Block/Area/Belt   | Mineral Commodity   |
|-------|-----------------------|-----------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------|
|     1 | Chhattisgarh          | 2018-19   | Korba                 | Katghora-Garhatara area           | Lithium             |
|     2 | J&K (erstwhile state) | 2018-19   | Leh                   | Hanle, Rhongo area                | Cobalt              |
|     3 | Himachal Pradesh      | 2018-19   | Kullu                 | Naraul-Danala area                | Cobalt              |
|     4 | Karnataka             | 2018-19   | Shimoga               | Tarlaghatta area                  | Cobalt              |
|     5 | Himachal Pradesh      | 2019-20   | Kinnaur               | Nako granite                      | Lithium             |
|     6 | Bihar                 |           | Nawada                | Pichhli Meghatari Area            | Lithium             |
|     7 | Rajasthan             |           | Sirohi                | Sibagaon area                     | Lithium             |
|     8 | Meghalaya             |           | East Khasi Hills      | Umlyngpung Block                  | Lithium             |
|     9 | Karnataka             |           | Haveri                | Masur-Kanvi Siddageri area        | Cobalt              |
|    10 | Karnataka             |           | Haveri and Davanagere | ChikkaGonageri area               | Cobalt              |
|    11 | Karnataka             |           | Uttar Kannada         | Devanmane and Gumlagadde areas    | Cobalt              |
|    12 | Karnataka             |           | Shimoga               | Hittala-Gilalagundi area          | Cobalt              |
|    13 | Arunachal Pradesh     |           | Papum Pare            | Niyamlo area                      | Cobalt              |
|    14 | Gujarat               |           | Aravalli              | Hathipura and Phojdar Kampain     | Cobalt              |
|    15 | Bihar                 | 2020-21   | Jamui                 | Harni-Kalwadih- Charkapthal area  | Lithium             |
|    16 | Bihar                 | 2020-21   | Jamui                 | Parmania-Tetariya area            | Lithium             |
|    17 | Jharkhand             | 2020-21   | Koderma               | Dhorakola- Kusahna area           | Lithium             |

(e)      A Joint Venture company namely Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) has been incorporated  in  August,  2019  by  three  CPSEs  namely  National  Aluminium  Company Limited  (NALCO),  Hindustan  Copper  Limited  (HCL)  and  Mineral  Exploration  Limited (MECL) to acquire strategic mineral assets overseas including for Lithium and Cobalt.

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