Srinagar/New Delhi, March 13 —The auction of lithium deposits in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district has been annulled after failing to attract any bidders, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy informed the Rajya Sabha (Upper house of the Indian Parliament) on Wednesday.
Responding to a query on the lithium discovery in Reasi, which was seen as a key asset for India’s energy transition, Reddy mentioned that exploration had reached the G3 stage, suggesting a preliminary resource assessment.
He said two lithium blocks were placed for auction—the Salal-Haimna Lithium, Titanium, and Bauxite block in Reasi and the Katghora Lithium and Rare Earth Elements block in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district. While the Katghora block was successfully auctioned, no bids were received for the Salal-Haimna block.
Reddy also noted that the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, which took effect on August 17, gave the Centre exclusive authority to auction mining leases for critical minerals like lithium.
“These amendments are aimed at streamlining the process and ensuring regulated development of India’s critical mineral resources,” he stated.
(KNO Inputs)