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Motor show in New Delhi: Conversion of the fleet is an important step towards climate neutrality
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According to the government, India has found significant reserves of the rare and highly sought-after raw material lithium.
In the Reasi district in the north-western state of Jammu and Kashmir, experts from the Indian geological authority found deposits of around 5.9 million tons, said India's mining ministry.
A plan for the mining of the light metal, which is primarily economically important, is now being drawn up.
Lithium is required for the production of rechargeable batteries, which are primarily in demand for electric vehicles.
The previously known deposits worldwide are estimated at around 98 million tons, with new deposits being discovered again and again in recent times.
According to data from the US geological agency, Chile has the largest reserves with around 9.3 million tons, followed by Australia with around 6.2 million tons.
Deposits in India are particularly important because the conversion of the car industry to electric drive is an important part of the plan to significantly reduce the country's CO2 emissions.
India is currently one of the three countries with the world's highest CO2 emissions, but has set itself the goal of becoming CO2-neutral by 2070.
So far, the country has been dependent on imports of lithium and lithium batteries from China and Vietnam.
mik/dpa-AFX
