Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL), a joint venture between NALCO Ltd., Hindustan Copper Ltd., and Mineral Exploration Company Ltd. signed an agreement with Argentina-based CAMYEN SE for the first-ever Lithium exploration and mining project.
The agreement gives KABIL exclusive rights to evaluate, prospect and explore and subsequent to discovery of Lithium, exploitation rights for commercial production for five Lithium brine blocks in the Catamarca Province of Argentina.
These five blocks, Cortadera-I, Cortadera-VII, Cortadera-VIII, Cateo-2022-01810132 and Cortadera-VI, will cover an area of 15,703 hectare and will cost ₹200 crore, NALCO said in an exchange filing.
Argentina is part of the "Lithium Triangle," which also includes Chile and Bolivia and consist of more than half of the global Lithium resources. The three countries also also have the second largest Lithium resources, third largest Lithium reserves and fourth largest Lithium production in the world respectively.
"This will not only boost its quest for sourcing Lithium for India but also help in bringing technical and operational expertise for Brine type Lithium exploration, exploitation and extraction.
KABIL was set up as a JV company between the three PSUs for exploration of critical minerals across the globe, with NALCO being the lead partner.
India has been looking for ways to boost Lithium supplies, a key component used in the manufacturing of batteries for Electric Vehicles. The first Lithium deposits were found last year in Jammu & Kashmir. Bids for 20 critical mineral blocks, including Lithium and Graphite were invited by the government in November last year.
Shares of NALCO had ended 3% higher on Monday and have surged over 60% in the last 12 months. Although Hindustan Copper's shares fell 2% on Monday, the stock has doubled over the last 12 months.
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