India Expanding Relationships to Seek Assistance for Lithium Processing

India is actively engaging in discussions with several countries to seek partnerships for technical assistance in lithium processing, according to four sources familiar with the matter. The aim is to strengthen India's emerging lithium mining and electric vehicle (EV) industries and reduce dependence on China.

Last year, India's Ministry of Mines initiated talks with Australia and the United States, as confirmed by two government sources and two industry participants. Additionally, both the Indian government and private companies have reached out to Bolivia, Britain, Japan, and South Korea for assistance in this regard.

Notably, executives from Russia's TENEX, a subsidiary of the state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom, have approached the Indian government and held at least two meetings with Indian officials this year. They have offered lithium processing technology and potential collaboration opportunities with Indian firms.

These discussions underscore India's efforts to develop a domestic lithium mining industry to supply chemical feedstocks for batteries in the EV sector. This move aligns with India's goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease its dependence on oil imports. A senior government official emphasized the importance of acquiring technology for lithium processing to achieve self-reliance, highlighting partnerships as a key approach in this endeavor.