FCC

NMDC explores lithium reserves in Australia for mining

2023-04-20

According to corporate authorities, Indian iron ore miner NMDC Ltd is exploring lithium reserves 124.3 miles (nearly 200 kilometres) off the coast of Perth, Australia.

“We are in the process of exploring (lithium) in Australia…,” D K Mohanty, director production NMDC told reporters on the sidelines of an industry conference in Mumbai.

According to a second NMDC executive who is not licenced to speak to the media, the business is the majority owner of a mine in Mt Bevan, Australia, and wants to begin mining within two years.

As part of its attempts to push for greener automobiles, India has been looking into ways to secure supply of lithium, a crucial raw material required to create electric vehicle batteries, from some of the world's top suppliers by acquiring abroad mines.

India discovered lithium deposits for the first time in the country in February and plans to auction off a mining block.