Opinion | Lithium Discovery: Uses, Concerns and Demands.

The locals demand that government should take care of their concerns;

As soon as the news broke that Geological Survey of India has established 5.9 million tonnes inferred resources (G3) of lithium in Reasi District of our Jammu & Kashmir whole country got excited. It is indeed a matter of pride that India will have the world’s 6th largest deposits of Lithium. The neighbouring country China has 5.1 million tons of Lithium deposits. A lot has been written about this rare discovery by national as well as international media outlets. Due to existence of this resource India is going to be the boss in many sectors as uses of lithium are numerous. Let’s discuss the utility of this metal:

Uses of Lithium:

Lithium metal in the pure form and its derivatives have many uses in manufacturing industries and in the field of medicine. Lithium Hydroxide is used as a thickening agent to make greases which are used as lubricants for industrial applications. It is also used for electronic products. Lithium-ions have a high capacity to store energy which make it fit for the manufacture of rechargeable batteries. Lithium Chloride has an enormous capacity to hold water; this property of lithium chloride makes it useful for air-conditioning purposes and as an antifreeze agent. As per the available information lithium is used in the manufacture of aluminium, magnesium, and lead alloys. Besides it lithium is used as an alloying agent to synthesize organic compounds. It is used as a flux to facilitate the fusing of metals during welding and soldering. In the manufacture of ceramics, enamels, and glass it is highly useful. Alloys of Lithium with aluminium, cadmium, copper, and manganese are used to make aircraft parts. It has also properties which are used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and for treating eating and blood disorders.

Lithium used in the renewable energy sector:

Lithium-ion batteries have a high electrochemical potential and energy density when compared to other batteries. This makes lithium-ion batteries the most efficient solution for the storage of renewable energy and as a source for mobile power. Electricity issues in Jammu and Kashmir like region can be resolved now easily on cheap investment. Its discovery is a development that can be a strong contributor to make the country more self-reliant. Due to demand in electric cars lithium-ion batteries are required. Thus, we can reduce dependency on imports which is indeed a big step for the betterment of our economy. The discovery of such a large quantum of lithium has brought India on the map as having the fifth-largest reservoir of the metal. Geology and Mining Department has said that it is graded at 500 parts per million compared to the normal grade which happens to be of 220 parts per million. Hopefully, the discovery will impact the global lithium market.
The concerns and demands:
The locals of the area fear that they will be displaced because of the lithium extraction. The locals demand that government should take care of their concerns. Unemployed of the area be provided jobs. Also, it is believed that groundwater crisis will be exacerbated as a lot of water is needed for its extract. Experts are of the view that government should take steps to prevent any sort of ecological disturbance. Near about 10,000 inhabitants of the sarea are involved in agriculture and cattle farming. They fear that mining can cause water crises for their livestock. It is expected that government will take care of every issue up to the expectations of the people.