"CIL, NMDC, OVL TO SEEK CRITICAL MINERAL ASSETS OVERSEAS"

Why in the news?

The Indian government has directed public sector companies Coal India, NMDC, and ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL) to actively scout for critical mineral assets abroad.
Coal India is pursuing lithium blocks in Chile, while NMDC is looking at gold and lithium mines in Australia.

source:Resarchgate

About Critical Minerals:

Critical minerals are essential for economic development and national security.
Limited availability or concentrated extraction/processing can cause supply chain vulnerabilities.
Potential disruptions in supply can significantly impact economies and security.
Expert Committee under the Ministry of Mines identifies 30 critical minerals for India.
Critical minerals include Antimony, Beryllium, Cobalt, Lithium, Titanium, and others.
Committee recommends creation of the Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals (CECM) in the Ministry of Mines.

About Lithium:

Properties: Lithium is a soft, silvery-white non-ferrous metal widely used in rechargeable batteries.
Usage: It’s a key component in batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, and electric vehicles.

Lithium Reserves in India:

Jammu and Kashmir: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) established Lithium inferred resources of 5.9 million tonnes in Reasi district.
Rajasthan: GSI found another reserve in Degana, Nagaur district, which is larger and capable of meeting 80% of India’s Lithium demand.

Associated Article:

What's New