Coal India Ltd is partnering with an American company to explore lithium blocks in Argentina, aiming to secure supplies of this essential battery material. The initiative is part of India’s involvement in the U.S. led Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), which the Indian government joined last year to ensure a stable supply of minerals needed for zero-carbon targets.
The government is actively seeking to secure lithium supplies, a key component in electric vehicle batteries. The government has designated thirty minerals, including lithium, nickel, titanium, vanadium, and tungsten, as crucial for advancing clean energy adoption.
India and the United States announced co-investment in a lithium resource project in South America and a rare earths deposit in Africa to enhance the diversification of critical mineral supply chains. India is in discussions with several countries, including the U.S., to collaborate on lithium processing, aiming to reduce dependency on China.
As reported by Reuters, under the minerals partnership, which India joined last year, the government was invited to participate in 20-25 critical minerals projects. The government has identified four projects, two of which are in collaboration with the U.S.
