India Eyes Global Partnerships For Lithium Processing, Aims To Reduce Dependency On China: Here's All About It

India is engaging in discussions with multiple countries to seek technical partnerships for lithium processing, according to a report from The Indian Express.

This move aims to strengthen India's emerging lithium mining and electric vehicle (EV) industries and reduce dependence on China.

The Ministry of Mines initiated talks with Australia and the United States last year, as per the sources, two of whom are from the government and two from the industry.

Additionally, the Indian government and certain private firms have approached Bolivia, Britain, Japan and South Korea for collaboration, although these discussions are not public yet.

As per the same report, executives from Russia's TENEX, a part of the state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom, have approached India offering lithium processing technology and potential collaboration with Indian companies. These discussions have included at least two meetings with Indian officials this year.

"We are looking to collaborate with other countries which have some experience," said a senior government official. "We are aiming to be self-reliant and one of the ways is through partnerships."

India is currently in the process of auctioning its first mining rights to lithium blocks discovered last year in the Jammu and Kashmir region and the states of Chhattisgarh.

Winners will receive licences for exploring and mining lithium, as well as processing it into lithium concentrates or chemicals for the battery industry.

Despite seeking external help, analysts warn that it will take several years for India to convert lithium ores into materials suitable for battery manufacturing. The process involves steps such as beneficiation, hydrometallurgy, leaching, and pyrometallurgy, for which India requires technical expertise.

Without domestic processing plants, Indian companies may need to ship lithium ores to China for processing, increasing costs and dependency.

The government's policy think-tank, NITI Aayog, has recommended incentives for establishing lithium processing plants in India. The country's battery industry is projected to require 56,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate annually by 2030, according to NITI Aayog.