Context:
A new study reveals that Chile’s Atacama salt flat is sinking at a rate of 1 to 2 centimetres per year due to lithium brine extraction.
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Lithium and its Uses
Also referred to as White Gold, lithium is a soft, silvery-white metal that is the lightest and least dense of all metals. It has several important uses:
- Rechargeable Batteries: The most significant use of lithium is in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, and electric vehicles.
- Lithium-ion batteries have high energy density and low self-discharge, making them ideal for portable electronics.
- Alloy: Lithium is used to make alloys with aluminium and magnesium, improving their strength while reducing weight.
- These alloys are used in aircraft, bicycle frames, and high-speed trains. A magnesium-lithium alloy is also used for armour plating.
- Glass and Ceramics: Lithium oxide is used in special glasses and glass ceramics to increase heat resistance and mechanical strength.
- Lubricants: Lithium stearate, made by reacting stearic acid with lithium hydroxide, is used as an all-purpose high-temperature lubricant.
- Air Conditioning and Drying: Lithium chloride is one of the most hygroscopic materials known and is used in air conditioning and industrial drying systems.
- Psychiatric Medication: Certain lithium compounds, known as lithium salts, are used as psychiatric medication, primarily for bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.
- Other Uses: Lithium is also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for things like heart pacemakers, toys, and clocks. Lithium hydride is used as a means of storing hydrogen for use as a fuel.
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Lithium mining and its impacts:
Mining Methods:
- Brine Extraction: Involves pumping salty water from underground aquifers to the surface, where it is placed in evaporation ponds.
- Hard Rock Mining: Involves extracting lithium from minerals like spodumene through traditional mining techniques.
Impacts:
- Water Consumption: The high water usage in brine extraction can exacerbate drought conditions in already arid areas, impacting local ecosystems and communities.
- Land Disturbance: Both mining methods can lead to significant land degradation, disrupting local wildlife habitats and altering landscapes.
- Pollution: Mining operations can lead to groundwater contamination from chemicals used in the extraction process, such as sulfuric and hydrochloric acids.
- Community Displacement: Lithium mining operations can displace local communities, leading to social unrest and conflicts over land rights and resource management.
- Economic Disparities: While lithium mining can provide economic opportunities, it can also lead to inequities where local populations do not benefit from the profits generated by mining companies.
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India and Lithium
India is actively working to develop its lithium resources to support its growing electric vehicle (EV) industry and reduce dependence on imports.
Key developments and implications regarding lithium in India:
Exploration and Development
- Investment in Argentina: India plans to invest approximately ₹200 crore to explore and develop five lithium blocks in Argentina, as part of a partnership between Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) and the Argentine government.
- Domestic Discoveries: In 2023, significant lithium reserves were discovered in Salal-Haimna areas of Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, with estimated resources of 5.9 million tonnes.
- Additional reserves have been identified in Rajasthan and Jharkhand, marking India as the seventh-largest lithium source globally.
Strategic Importance
- Energy Transition: Lithium is categorised as a strategic mineral for India, essential for achieving its targets for renewable energy and electric vehicle adoption.
- Lithium is included in India’s list of 30 critical minerals, which are vital for various sectors, including renewable energy, defence, and high-tech industries.
- The government aims for 30% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030, necessitating a robust domestic lithium supply to support battery production.
- Reducing Import Dependence: Currently, India relies heavily on imports for lithium, with about 70-80% of its lithium sourced from China.
- The government is focused on establishing a self-sufficient lithium supply chain to mitigate risks associated with geopolitical tensions and supply disruptions.
Challenges
- Processing Capabilities: While India has made strides in discovering lithium reserves, it faces challenges in processing the mineral into battery-grade lithium. The country lacks the necessary infrastructure and technology for refining lithium, which is critical for battery manufacturing.
- Environmental and Social Considerations: The push for lithium mining raises concerns about environmental impacts and the rights of local communities.
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