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					</table><p>The Central Electricity Authority (<a href="https://cea.nic.in/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CEA</a>) has approved two new Pumped Hydro Storage Projects (PSPs) in Maharashtra with a total capacity of 2,500 MW.</p>
<p>The two projects are the 1,500 MW Bhavali PSP being developed by <a href="https://www.jsw.in/energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JSW Energy</a> and the 1,000 MW Bhivpuri PSP by <a href="https://www.tatapower.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tata Power</a>.</p>
<p>Both projects are expected to be operational by 2028 and provide over 15 GWh of energy storage capacity.</p>
<p>The move aligns with the growing need for reliable storage solutions in an evolving energy landscape.</p>
<p>These approvals were secured with the support of the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Geological Survey of India (GSI), and the Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS).</p>
<p>The concurrence for both projects was completed within ten days of receiving the finalized Detailed Project Reports (DPR) through the CEA’s new portal.</p>
<p>This development will contribute significantly to grid stability by addressing peak demand during non-solar hours and facilitating faster integration of renewable energy sources.</p>
<p>To further bolster energy storage capacity, the CEA aims to approve at least two PSPs per month over the year, with a target of concurring 15 PSPs, totaling 25,500 MW, by 2025.</p>
<p>Four projects with a combined capacity of 5,100 MW have already been approved this year.</p>
<p>To streamline processes and promote ease of business, the CEA has launched an online portal, “Jalvi-store,” which enhances transparency and expedites the pre-DPR stages of PSP approvals.</p>
<p>The approval process for these projects has been significantly accelerated by eliminating certain procedural requirements and incorporating clear guidelines.</p>
<p>In March, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/maharashtra-tender-1-gw-pumped-hydro-energy-storage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> a request for selection to procure 1,000 MW of energy storage capacity for 40 years from inter or intra-state connected pumped hydro storage projects on a demand basis.</p>
<p>Last year, NTPC Renewable Energy <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-bids-2-gw-pumped-hydro-storage-projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids for developing pumped hydro energy storage projects of up to 2,000 MW capacity across India.</p>


CEA Approves 2,500 MW Pumped Hydro Storage Projects in Maharashtra


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					</table><p>Union <a href="https://coal.gov.in/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Minister of Coal</a>, <a href="https://mines.gov.in/webportal/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mines</a> &amp; Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, has unveiled India&#8217;s first-ever report on “Critical Minerals for India,” identifying a list of 30 critical minerals, comprising Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Graphite, Cadmium, Silicon, Indium, Tellurium among others imperative for the development of renewables such as electric vehicles and solar.</p>
<p>The list was identified considering resource and reserve position, production, import dependency, future technology, clean energy use, and agricultural requirements.</p>
<p>It is expected to play an important role in executing the required policies to ensure regulated extraction of these minerals essential for the growth of the renewables sector. The country, for now, continues to depend on imports of such raw materials to develop renewable technologies domestically.</p>
<p>Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary Ministry of Mines, stressed the urgency of reevaluating India&#8217;s mineral requirements in light of international commitments to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net-zero targets.</p>
<p>With an increasing focus on energy transition and sustainability, the Ministry acknowledges the need to periodically revisit the critical mineral list to align with evolving demands and emerging technologies.</p>
<p>The report, prepared by an expert team constituted by the Ministry of Mines, comes as a crucial step in India&#8217;s journey towards self-reliance and security in the domain of mineral resources.</p>
<p>The Ministry formed a seven-member committee to identify critical minerals for the country. The committee conducted a three-stage assessment process to determine the list of critical minerals.</p>
<p>In the first stage, the committee studied the critical minerals strategies of various countries and considered 69 elements/minerals that were considered critical by major global economies.</p>
<p>The second stage involved an inter-ministerial consultation to identify minerals critical to specific sectors. Feedback was received from representatives of various ministries and organizations.</p>
<p>The third stage aimed to derive an empirical formula for identifying critical minerals.</p>
<p>The committee consulted with the International Energy Agency (<a href="https://www.iea.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IEA</a>) and adopted the EU methodology, considering economic importance and supply risk factors.</p>
<p>The identified minerals also include Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Hafnium, Molybdenum, Niobium, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Strontium, Tantalum,  Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, and Selenium.</p>
<p>The Geological Survey of India (<a href="https://www.gsi.gov.in/webcenter/portal/OCBIS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GSI</a>) is currently focused on exploring and assessing these critical and deep-seated minerals.</p>
<p>Minerals like lithium, graphite, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements are crucial for various sectors, including high-tech electronics, telecommunications, transport, defense, and the global transition to a low-carbon emissions economy.</p>
<p>India has been recently included as the newest partner in the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) following Prime Minister Modi&#8217;s recent visit to the United States.</p>
<p>The partnership aims to strengthen critical mineral supply chains, ensuring a steady and secure supply of minerals vital to the nation&#8217;s strategic interests.</p>
<p>The committee also recommended the creation of a Centre of Excellence for Critical Minerals (CECM) within the Ministry of Mines.</p>
<p>The CECM will update the list of critical minerals, develop a critical mineral strategy, and facilitate the development of an effective value chain for critical minerals in the country.</p>
<p>Recently, months after the GSI <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-lithium-reserves-in-jammu-kashmir" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> the discovery of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K), officials in the Rajasthan government <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/large-lithium-discovered-in-rajasthan-gsi-officials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that they had discovered lithium in the state.</p>
<p>The Government of India is set to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/government-to-lithium-reserves-found-in-jk-in-december" target="_blank" rel="noopener">auction</a> the 5.9 million tons of lithium reserves found in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district in December this year.</p>


India Unveils Critical Minerals List to Boost Clean Energy and Cut Imports


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					</table><p>Months after the Geological Survey of India (<a href="https://www.gsi.gov.in/webcenter/portal/OCBIS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GSI</a>) announced the discovery of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir (J&amp;K), officials in the Rajasthan government said that they have discovered lithium in the state.</p>
<p>Citing officials, news agency IANS reported that the lithium deposits found in Rajasthan are so vast that they can end China&#8217;s monopoly and make India self-sufficient in green energy.</p>
<p>The lithium reserves are said to be larger than the recently <u><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-lithium-reserves-in-jammu-kashmir" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a></u> deposits in J&amp;K.</p>
<p>The report said the GSI and mining officials have confirmed the presence of large lithium deposits in the area, which could meet 80% of India&#8217;s total demand for lithium.</p>
<p>The accidental discovery of lithium reserves in Rajasthan occurred when GSI explored the area for high-grade tungsten minerals.</p>
<p>Lithium is a non-ferrous metal that is critical to producing rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, electric vehicles, and other devices. Lithium stores chemical energy and converts it into electrical energy, making it a crucial component in every chargeable electronic and battery-powered gadget found in homes today.</p>
<p>The lithium reserves found in Rajasthan are in the Renvat hill of Degana and the surrounding area.</p>
<p>The demand for lithium is set to increase significantly in the coming decades, with a projected 500% rise in global demand by the year 2050, according to the World Bank.</p>
<p>The world&#8217;s largest lithium reserves are currently in Bolivia, followed by Argentina, Chile, and America. Despite this, China, with 5.1 million tonnes of reserves, continues to dominate the global market.</p>
<p>India, too, is heavily dependent on China for its lithium imports, with 53.8% of its total shipments coming from China.</p>
<p>The GSI survey team feels there may be deposits of lithium in other places such as Barmer and Jaisalmer. The GSI survey team is expediting exploration work to facilitate mining auctions as soon as possible.</p>
<p>The Government of India is set to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/government-to-lithium-reserves-found-in-jk-in-december" target="_blank" rel="noopener">auction</a> the 5.9 million tons of lithium reserves found in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district in December this year.</p>


Large Lithium Deposits Discovered in Rajasthan, say GSI Officials

<p>The Geological Survey of India (<a href="https://www.gsi.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GSI</a>), part of the <a href="https://mines.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ministry of Mines</a>, has taken up seven projects for lithium exploration across different states in India. Lithium is the crucial element in manufacturing batteries for phones, electronic devices, and electric vehicles.</p>
<p>According to the <a href="https://mercomindia.com/china-leads-lithium-ion-battery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forecast</a> in Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s (<a href="https://about.bnef.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BNEF</a>) ‘Global Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Ranking,’ Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturers are likely to retain their recently acquired number one position in the next five years. The U.S. and Sweden may emerge third and fourth by 2025, respectively.</p>
<p>Lithium-bearing minerals fall under Part B ‘Atomic Minerals’ of the First Schedule of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 1957. Their reserves are not available in the National Mineral Inventory.</p>
<p>According to a press release issued by the ministry, the GSI takes up different stages of mineral exploration as per the approved field season program.</p>
<p>Between 2016-17 and 2020-21, GSI carried out 14 projects on Lithium and associated elements in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.</p>
<p>For 2021-22, GSI has taken up seven projects for Lithium exploration in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Jammu &amp; Kashmir, and Rajasthan.</p>
<p>Apart from the GSI, the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (<a href="https://www.amd.gov.in/app16/index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AMDER</a>) &#8211; a constituent unit of the <a href="https://dae.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Atomic Energy</a> &#8211; has also undertaken exploration for Lithium in potential geological domains in parts of Karnataka and Rajasthan.</p>
<p>AMDER has also taken up subsurface exploration in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district in Karnataka. Reconnaissance surveys have also been carried out along the Saraswati River paleochannel in the Jodhpur and Barmer districts of Rajasthan to locate lithium mineralization associated with brine (saline water in salt lakes).</p>
<p>Preliminary surveys on the surface and limited subsurface exploration by AMDER have shown the presence of 1,600 tonnes of Lithium resources (inferred category) in the pegmatites of Marlagalla – Allapatna area, Mandya district, Karnataka.</p>
<p>However, a joint venture company named ‘Khanij Bidesh India’ has been formed by three Central Public Sector Enterprises with the support of the Ministry of Mines.</p>
<p>These Central Public Sector Enterprises are National Aluminium Company (<a href="https://nalcoindia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NALCO</a>), Hindustan Copper, and Mineral Exploration Corporation with equity participation of 40:30:30 respectively. The purpose of ‘Khanij Bidesh India’ is to acquire mineral assets overseas – primarily critical and strategic minerals including Lithium, Cobalt, and others, excluding rare Earth elements.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <a href="https://barrelenergyandtech.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barrel Energy</a>, a U.S.-based lithium-ion battery manufacturer, has <a href="https://mercomindia.com/barrel-energy-set-up-battery-manufacturing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">signed</a> a memorandum of understanding with Hyderabad-based <a href="http://www.roshantechnologies.in/home/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roshan Energy Technologies</a> to develop and manufacture lithium-ion batteries in India and North America.</p>


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