Lithium is a chemical element with the symbol Li and atomic number 3. It is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal that is highly reactive and flammable. At standard conditions, it is the least dense metal and the least dense solid element. It is even less dense than water, due to which it floats on water. It is also very less weighted.
Lithium has a highly reactive nature, due to which it is needed to be stored in a special way. It must be kept in a container which is vacuum-sealed, filled with an inert gas like argon or nitrogen, or submerged in an inert liquid such as purified kerosene or mineral oil. These measures prevent any interaction of lithium with air or water, which can lead to dangerous chemical reactions and even explosions.
Source: https://e-vehicleinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lithium-New-White-Gold.jpg
Lithium is also known as White Gold due to its increasing importance in the modern world. Lithium-ion batteries, which are powered by Lithium, have revolutionized the world of technology, enabling the development of electric vehicles, smartphones, and other portable electronics. It is also commonly used in batteries, ceramics, and even in medicine to treat certain mental health conditions. Lithium-ion batteries are popular because they have a high energy density and can be recharged. As the world shifts towards cleaner energy sources, the demand for Lithium is expected to grow.
Lithium in Global Market
The Global Lithium Market has experienced significant growth over the past few years, driven by the increasing demand for lithium-ion. Lithium is the most crucial component in the production of lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in the automotive and consumer electronics industries. The global lithium market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, with some estimates projecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20% from 2021 to 2028.
Source: Gruber, Paul W., Pablo A. Medina, Gregory A. Keoleian, Stephen E. Kesler, Mark P. Everson, and Timothy J. Wallington, 2011, "Global Lithium Availability: A Constraint for Electric Vehicles?", Journal of Industrial Ecology, 15: 5, 760-775
Currently, the largest producers of lithium are countries such as, Australia, Chile, Argentina, and China. The countries, China, Australia and Chile together account for over 80% of global lithium production. These countries are home to some of the largest lithium reserves in the world and have significant mining operations in place to extract the mineral. However, new sources of lithium are being explored and developed in other countries as well, such as Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Lithium Reserves in India
India has an estimated 5.5 million tonnes of lithium reserves, mostly found in the states of Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. However, India's lithium production has been relatively low due to limited exploration and extraction efforts. Karnataka has the largest share of India's lithium reserves, with an estimated 4.78 million tonnes of lithium. The lithium deposits in Karnataka are found in the districts of Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, and Bengaluru Rural.
The lithium reserves in Karnataka are mostly in the form of lithium-bearing mica which are of good quality. Rajasthan has an estimated 1.07 million tonnes of lithium reserves, mostly found in the Bhilwara district. The lithium deposits in Rajasthan are found in the form of spodumene, which is also a good source of lithium. Tamil Nadu has an estimated 30,000 tonnes of lithium reserves, mostly found in the Sivaganga district. The lithium deposits in Tamil Nadu are also found in the form of spodumene.
In recent years, there have been some new findings of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir. In 2018, the Indian government's Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMDER) discovered lithium reserves in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. The estimated reserves in this region were reported to be around 1,600 tonnes. In 2020, AMDER also discovered significant deposits of lithium in the Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. The reserves are estimated to be around 1,600 tonnes, with a potential of up to 4,000 tonnes. These new findings are expected to increase India's total lithium reserves and could help reduce the country's dependence on lithium imports.
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The Union Ministry of Mines recently announced on 9th February 2023, the major discovery of lithium reserves in India in Jammu and Kashmir. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has established 5.9 million tonnes of inferred lithium resources in the Salal-Haimana area of Reasi District in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Lithium reserves in India will be beneficial in lot of ways for the country, some of which are as follows:-
1. Reducing Dependence on Imports: In Financial Yea2020-2021, India imported lithium and lithium-ion worth INR 173 crore and INR 8,811 crore respectively. The demand is likely to rise multifield in the future. The finding of lithium reserves in India will reduce dependence on imports.
2. Affordable Transition: The discovery of domestic deposits of lithium will help the expanding the EV ecosystem at reasonable and affordable costs, and make the transition to green mobility more economical.
3. Meet Government Objectives: This will also help advance the Government’s ambitious plan of 30% EV penetration in private cars, 70% for commercial vehicles, and 80% for two and three-wheelers by 2030 for the automobile industry.
4. Potential to become Major Producer: The majority of the global reserves are located in regions with severe water stress limiting their ability to scale-up production. India has a potential to replace global lithium supply chains.
But, there are also many challenges to be faced by India in the extraction of Lithium, some of which are as follows:-
1. Geological Stability: Mining in geologically unstable regions, such as areas with high seismic activity, can pose significant challenges and risks to the safety of miners and the stability of mining operations. According to the seismic zonation map of India, the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, comes under seismologically active Zones IV and V and is also ecologically sensitive. Mining in geologically unstable region will be a major challenge.
2. Environmental Consequences: The process of extracting lithium from hard rock mines can have significant environmental consequences, including the depletion and contamination of waterways and groundwater, the loss of biodiversity, and air pollution. Open-pit-mining, refining, and waste disposal from these processes can cause long-lasting environmental damage.
3. Environmental Justice: The extraction of lithium can create environmental justice challenges, particularly for local populations who may be disproportionately impacted by the negative environmental consequences of mining. Ensuring that mining activities are conducted in an equitable and sustainable manner is critical to avoiding these challenges.
4. Mining Policy: The lack of an integrated mining policy for strategic metals and minerals, as well as poor domestic capabilities, can hinder the exploitation of lithium reserves.
5. Security Threat: Terrorist groups may threaten mining activities, which can pose a significant security risk for miners and local communities. Ensuring the security of mining operations is critical to the development of the mining industry.
6. Availability of Technology: Extracting lithium from rocks and minerals requires specialized technology and expertise. India currently lacks the technology and experience necessary to extract and purify lithium, which could hinder the development of a domestic lithium extraction industry.
It's important to note that India's lithium reserves are relatively low compared to other countries like Australia, Chile, and Argentina. As a result, India has been heavily dependent on importing lithium to meet its growing demand for electric vehicles and other lithium-ion battery applications. However, the recent discoveries of lithium deposits in Jammu and Kashmir are a positive development for India's efforts to reduce its dependence on lithium imports.
Production of Lithium-ion batteries
The production of the lithium-ion battery cell consists of three main stages: electrode manufacturing, cell assembly, and cell finishing. Each of these stages has sub-processes, that begin with coating the anode and cathode to assembling the different components and eventually packing and testing the battery cells.
Source: https://etn.news/images/easyblog_articles/715/b2ap3_large_Cell-Manufacturing-1.jpg
The widely produced types of cells are Prismatic, cylindrical, and pouch, and though the cell design differs the manufacturing processes are similar. Manufacturing contributes about 25 percent of the cost of the Li-ion battery.
Li-ion cells comprise four main components – two electrodes: one anode (holds the lithium ions when charged) and one cathode (holds the lithium ions when discharged), a separator that is placed between the electrodes to prevent contact and shorting, and an electrolyte medium that enables movement of lithium ions between the electrodes.
Typically, the anode is made of graphite while the cathode can be an alloy of multiple metals (nickel, cobalt, lithium, others). All the components are packed in a casing and tabs are exposed for a positive and negative terminal. The cells are then arranged and connected to make a battery pack.
Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing in India
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India's lithium-ion battery manufacturing industry is still in its infancy stage, with only a few major players in the market. However, the industry has seen significant growth in recent years, with the government announcing several measures to promote domestic production. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for lithium-ion battery manufacturing aims to attract investments of up to $5.6 billion and has received interest from major players such as Tesla and Samsung.
The lithium-ion battery industry in India has developed a 25% growth over the past years. India has a good number of Lithium-ion Battery Manufacturers companies and their contribution is massive in making the largest number of Lithium-ion batteries for Electronic Vehicles. The government is also giving initiatives for the development of the automobile industry through EV battery manufacturing startups in India.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed an MoU with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to manufacture lithium-ion batteries for Electric Vehicle in India. Also in addition to this, ISRO announced a decision to transfer its lithium-ion cell technology to the Indian industry on a non-exclusive basis for use in automobiles for Rs 1 crore.
India's Electric Vehicle Industry
India's electric vehicle industry is in its early stages, with the government targeting 30% electric vehicle adoption by 2030. The growth of the electric vehicle industry is expected to drive demand for lithium-ion batteries in the country. It is less than 1% of the total vehicle sales however has the potential to grow to more than 5% in a few years.
At present, there are more than 5 lakhs electric two-wheelers and few thousand electric cars on Indian roads. The industry volumes have been fluctuating, mostly depending on the incentives offered by the government. Many serious players (Hero Eco, Ather, Electrotherm, Avon, Lohia, Ampere, etc) are continuing with the mission and trying to enforce the positive change under the banner of SMEV.
More than 90% of electric vehicles on Indian roads are low-speed electric scooters (less than 25km/hr) that do not require registration and licenses. Almost all electric scooters run on lead batteries to keep the prices low, however, battery failures and low life of batteries have become major limiting factors for sales besides government subsidies. Many manufacturers have taken initiatives to install the charging station with limited success. Players like Lohia and Electrotherm have developed Electric three-wheelers. Ampere and Hero have entered Electric Cycles segments. There are numbers of E-Rickshaw players mushrooming across the country and selling good numbers of E rickshaw for last-mile connectivity.
The industry is almost ready for take-off but for the incentives. It is expected that with FAME-2 the industry may witness a quantum leap in volumes and technology. SMEV sees a great opportunity with EVs in reducing the Carbon footprint, dependence on Crude oil imports, creating jobs and building a new Technology knowledge hub in India.
Source: https://evultimo.com/assets/uploads/media-uploader/ev-industry-india1655801405.jpg
In conclusion, India's pursuit of lithium, also known as the "white gold", reflects the country's ambition to strengthen its position in the global electric vehicle (EV) industry. As one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India is eager to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and adopt cleaner energy sources. The government's push towards electric mobility has made it imperative for the country to secure a stable supply of lithium, which is a crucial component in the manufacturing of EV batteries.
The lithium industry is currently dominated by a few countries, including China, Australia, and Chile. However, India's lithium reserves are estimated to be among the largest in the world, making it a potentially significant player in the global lithium market. The country's recent efforts to explore and extract its lithium resources have attracted the attention of several international companies.
The race for lithium in India has prompted the government to develop policies and frameworks to encourage domestic production and attract foreign investments. This has led to the establishment of lithium-ion battery manufacturing units in the country, which is expected to create job opportunities and contribute to the growth of the economy.
Despite the potential benefits, there are also concerns regarding the environmental impact of lithium mining and processing. It is important for India to adopt sustainable practices and minimize the negative impact on the environment and local communities.
Overall, India's lithium dreams represent an exciting opportunity for the country to emerge as a major player in the global EV market. By leveraging its abundant resources and fostering a supportive environment for domestic production and foreign investments, India can pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Article by:- Neha Bhattacharya
Edited by:- J Shree Nidhi
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