MT News Service
Jammu, March 24:
Jammu and Kashmir mining secretary Amit Sharma on Friday said the Union territory is in the process to auction the lithium reserves discovered last month but it is too early to talk about the timeline.
Lithium reserves have been found for the first time in the country in Jammu and Kashmir.
When asked when the auction of lithium reserves, found in Jammu and Kashmir, will happen, Sharma said, ”It is too early. I know we are all ambitious about it, but it is too early to talk about it. But yes, we are in a process and maybe over the next few months or years we would be able to reach there with everybody’s support”.
Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in EV batteries. ”Everywhere they are asking the question when will commercial exploitation start and when will the bidding start and all those kinds of questions… Let us understand the reality that it does not happen overnight and it should not happen overnight because it has lots and lots to offer and once it starts it is going to consume lots of things,” Sharma said during a conclave on the discovery of lithium reserves in J&K, organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Sharma further said that lithium reserves have been discovered in the foothills of the Salal-Haimana area of the Reasi district and extraction from hills is always a challenge.
Jammu and Kashmir will put on sale the lithium block discovered last month, Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi recently said.
The minister had said that the expected date of extraction of lithium will depend upon the successful auction of the mineral block.