With India's Battery Storage Requirement Likely To Surge To 120 GWh By 2030, Govt Eyes Acquisition Of Lithium Mines Abroad

Union Minister of Power R K Singh on Wednesday (8 December) chaired an interministerial meeting on PLI scheme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage and strategy to acquire lithium mines abroad.

The meeting was attended by the officials from Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Heavy industries, MEA ,NITI Ayog and senior officials from Power Ministry.

The minister took an update on status of th bids on PLI Scheme by Ministry of heavy industries and directed to expedite the PLI bid processes, a Power Ministry release said on Thursday (9 December).

He further discussed the availability of Lithium reserves in the world and reviewed the probable locations where India can explore Lithium mines.

The process and mechanism acquiring mines varies in different countries and we need to prepare accordingly, he added.

The minister brought to the attention that India is a huge country in terms of energy requirements and hence the country's requirement for battery storage is also huge, and is estimated as 120 GWh by 2030, to support its 500 GW renewable capacity addition, the release said.

He further discussed future prospects and long term planning in view of India's renewable energy targets.