SRINAGAR: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, during an Inter-Ministerial meeting of the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET), emphasised the need to expedite the exploration of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
A statement issued by PIB reads that Singh highlighted the potential economic benefits of the lithium find for India’s mining sector. He also urged swift action on the delayed Sapphire Park project in Kishtwar.
Union Mining Secretary VL Kanta Rao assured that results of the lithium exploration would be visible within the next few months. Dr Singh also praised NMET for its record expenditure of nearly Rs 300 crores on exploration activities in the last financial year. He also emphasised the importance of NMET’s role in the newly launched “Critical Mineral Mission” aimed at boosting domestic production and exploring critical minerals.
Dr Singh called for collaboration between the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) in sharing data to support the mission. He advocated for adopting a public-private partnership model to encourage startups and MSMEs in the mining sector, incorporating emerging technologies like AI and ML. Dr Singh also urged state ministers to submit more mineral exploration projects to increase the availability of mineral blocks for auction.
The meeting was attended by Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy and other state ministers and senior officials from the ministries of coal and petroleum.
