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Lithium Reserves Will Give India a Boost—Eventually

Last week, Indian officials announced that 5.9 million metric tons of inferred lithium resources had been discovered in Reasi, in Indian-administered Kashmir. This could be a geopolitical game changer. The find comes as the value of lithium is soaring thanks to its scarcity and surging demand; it is used in batteries that power devices from laptops to electric vehicles. But for it to pay off, India must overcome technical obstacles as well as environmental and security risks.

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There are also political advantages for India. The lithium discovery provides another data point to support Modi’s pledge to make India more self-reliant, a core political mantra. The prime minister has promised to boost both established industries such as defense manufacturing and emerging sectors such as renewable energy. Furthermore, finding lithium on its own soil allows India to push back against China—already a key player in lithium production.

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When India does manage to access the new reserves, it will still face environmental and security risks. Lithium extraction requires significant water resources and generates polluting emissions. The lithium is also located in an ecologically fragile region. Natural resource extraction has fueled anger in other local communities, contributing to conflict in parts of eastern India. Although Reasi isn’t as volatile as the Kashmir valley, it has seen anti-government violence in the past. Neighboring Pakistan could exploit local resistance to lithium extraction to draw global attention to what it sees as India’s repressive rule over Kashmir.

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