SRINAGAR: The Centre on Wednesday said that auction of the lithium block that was found in Reasi district has not been successful so far and that mining and production will be carried out once the block is successfully auctioned.
In a written reply to a question, minister of Coal and Mines G K Reddy, said that GSI has estimated an inferred resource (G3) of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore with an average grade of 583 ppm having a cutoff of Li ≥ 200 ppm within bauxite in Salal and Haimna areas of Reasi district
He said that the central government had put the lithium block of Jammu & Kashmir for auction. “However, the auction was not successful. Only after the block is successfully auctioned, the lessee will carry out mining and subsequently production.”
The minister said that the mining cost per tonnes will be estimated by the lessee. “The market price of lithium carbonate in the international market is around USD 15,000 per tonnes,” he added.