Lok Sabha Question No. 1525 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-28
Subject: Exploration of Lithium
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Midhun Reddy, Chinta Anuradha, Kuruva Gorantla Madhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1525

ANSWERED ON 28.07.2021

## EXPLORATION OF LITHIUM

1525.  SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY: SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA: SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  explore  the  development  of Lithium in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reserves of Lithium in the country;
- (c) whether the Government has recently signed an agreement with Argentina for joint exploration of Lithium;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government has any other similar agreements with other countries for Lithium sourcing; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  & (b) Every  year, as  per approved annual Field Season Programme [FSP], Geological Survey  of India, an attached  office  of  Ministry  of  Mines,  takes  up different  stages  of  mineral  exploration  viz.  reconnaissance  surveys  (G4), preliminary exploration (G3) and general exploration(G2) following the guidelines  of  United  Nations  Framework  Classification  (UNFC)  and  Mineral Evidence  and  Mineral  Content  Rules  (MEMC-2015)  for  augmenting  mineral resource for various mineral commodities including lithium. During FSP 201617  to  FSP  2020-21,  GSI  carried  out  14  projects  on  Lithium  and  associated elements  in  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh,  Himachal  Pradesh,  Jammu  &  Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Karnataka and Rajasthan. During the present  FSP  2021-22,  GSI  has  taken  up  7  projects  on  Lithium  in  Arunachal Pradesh,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand,  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and Rajasthan. However, resource of lithium has not yet been augmented by GSI.

Further,  Atomic  Minerals  Directorate  for  Exploration  and  Research (AMDER), a constituent unit of Department Atomic Energy (DAE),has undertaken exploration for lithium in potential geological domains in parts of Karnataka and Rajasthan. AMDER has also taken up subsurface exploration in Marlagalla  area,  Mandya  district,  Karnataka.  Reconnaissance  surveys  have been  also  carried  out  along  Saraswati  River  palaeochannel,  in  Jodhpur  and Barmer districts, Rajasthan for locating lithium mineralisation associated with brine (saline water in salt lakes).   Preliminary surveys on surface and limited subsurface exploration by AMD, have shown presence of Lithium resources of 1,600  tonnes  (inferred  category)  in  the  pegmatites  of  Marlagalla  -  Allapatna area, Mandya district, Karnataka.

As  per  the  available  records,  Lithium  bearing  minerals  are  in  Part  B 'Atomic Minerals' of First Schedule to MMDR Act, 1957 and their reserves/resources are not available in National Mineral Inventory.

(c) to (f) No, Sir.  However, under the aegis of Ministry of Mines, a joint venture company named 'Khanij  Bidesh India  Ltd. (KABIL)  has  been  formed  by  three CPSEs  namely  National  Aluminium  Company  Limited  (NALCO),Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL)with equity participation of 40:30:30 respectively, to acquire mineral assets overseas - primarily the critical & strategic minerals including Lithium, Cobalt & others and NOT Rare Earth Elements.

KABIL  has  signed  Non-Binding  Memorandum  of  Understanding  [MoU]  with non-disclosure agreement with the following three State-owned organizations of Argentina, for the purpose of information sharing w.r.t. prospective mineral acreages:

- (i) M/s  JEMSE,  a  State-owned  enterprise  of  JUJUY  province  on  10th  July, 2020,
- (ii)  M/S YPF an Energy major & federal owned enterprises on 9th September, 2020, and
- (iii) M/s  CAMYEN, a state owned enterprise of CATAMARCA province on 29th December, 2020.

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