SRINAGAR: The auction of lithium deposits found in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir has been annulled after no bids were received, Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy said during a session in the Rajya Sabha.
Responding to a question on Wednesday regarding the significant lithium discovery in Reasi in 2023, which was initially described as a potential game-changer for India’s energy transition, the minister, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), confirmed the finding of lithium deposits in the region. He stated that exploration had reached the G3 level, indicating a preliminary stage of resource assessment.
When asked whether the lithium blocks had been auctioned, the minister confirmed that two blocks were put up for bidding. These included the Salal-Haimna Lithium, Titanium, and Bauxite (Aluminous Laterite) block in Reasi district and the Katghora Lithium and Rare Earth Elements (REE) block in Korba district, Chhattisgarh. While the Katghora block was successfully auctioned, the bidding process for the Salal-Haimna block failed due to a lack of bidders.
The minister further stated that the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, which came into effect on 17 August 2023, empowered the Central government to exclusively auction mining leases for critical and strategic minerals like lithium.
“These amendments aim to streamline the process and ensure that India’s critical mineral resources are developed in a regulated manner,” he added. (KNO)
