Country’s first lithium mine will open in Katghora, Chhattisgarh

On the instructions of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai, as his representative, State Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal attended the 6th Governing Body Meeting of the National Mineral Exploration Trust held at Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi. In the meeting chaired by Union Coal and Mines Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy, the exploitation of minerals and their use along with the conservation of nature and environment were discussed. The Katghora area located in Korba district of Chhattisgarh was also discussed in the meeting. Geological Survey of India has confirmed the presence of large reserves of lithium in about 250 hectares of Katghora area.

State Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, who was present in the meeting as a representative of Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai, while giving information said that the lithium mine to be started soon in Katghora will be the first lithium mine of the country. He said that at present lithium is an important metal due to which the state and the country will move towards a new direction of development. He said that with the start of lithium mine, Chhattisgarh will be one of the leading states of the country in the coming times and Chhattisgarh’s lithium reserves will contribute significantly in the contribution of developed India, 2047.

It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Mines, Government of India has issued NIT in the MSTC portal for allotment of 20 Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks located in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir through e-auction.

Among these 20 blocks, Lithium and REE block is also included in Katghora area located in Korba district of Chhattisgarh. In the initial survey by GSI in about 250 hectares area, lithium content of about 10 ppm to 2 thousand ppm has been found. Presence of rare earth elements has also been found in the block. Critical and strategic minerals are required in renewable energy, defense, agriculture, pharmaceutical, high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transportation etc. Currently, the country is dependent on imports in the matter of this mineral.