Lithium Mine Auction in Chhattisgarh Expected Next Month
Raipur |correspondent:The auction of the lithium mine in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district has been postponed due to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. It’s now scheduled for next month.
The areas declared as lithium-rich zones by the Mining Department after aerial surveys are primarily agricultural regions. Farming is the main occupation in over a dozen small and large villages including Maheshpur, Ghuchapura, Ghareepkhapna, and Rampur.
According to the survey, a lithium block spans across 256.12 hectares in the Katghora-Ghuchapura area. Of this, 84.86 hectares are forest land.
Back in March, the Ministry of Mines had put out a tender for the auction, drawing interest from several companies including Coal India (CIL), Vedanta, Adani Group, and Jindal Steel Power. Additionally, companies from Argentina, Ola Electric, Shree Cement, Khanij Bidesh India, Oriental Mining & Co, Dalmia, Rungta, and UltraTech were also in the running.
Lithium was discovered in Katghora tehsil by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) back in February 2023. The initial findings indicate deposits spread over 256.12 hectares, including 84.86 hectares of forest land.
The GSI reported varied lithium values in the Katghora area, ranging between 82.606 and 155 parts per million across seven composite samples.There’s a possibility that Korba’s Katghora block might be recommended for a composite license, integrating prospecting and mining rights. This block is part of the ongoing auction process covering 20 mineral blocks nationwide.
The Ministry is eager to accelerate mining activities in Chhattisgarh. Union Mines Secretary V L Kantha Rao recently visited the state, seeking suggestions from mining and mineral industry representatives to enhance excavation efforts.
Rao also urged state officials to prevent illegal excavation in closed mines. Any discovery of minerals in these mines should trigger the necessary procedures, he advised.
Chhattisgarh is one of the states with access to the District Mineral Foundations (DMF) portal. Rao emphasized utilizing DMF to boost beneficial activities and develop infrastructure in mining-affected regions, addressing the needs of the local populace.
