Indias Lithium Resources in Kashmir Highlight Conflict Risks Around Critical Minerals

The document examines the implications of India's discovery of 5.9 million tons of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that while it could bolster India's energy independence and EV goals, it risks exacerbating internal communal tensions and international conflict with Pakistan. It highlights environmental threats to the Chenab River watershed and suggests that the U.S. should promote global mining governance, technological alternatives like sodium-ion batteries, and demand-reduction policies to mitigate these risks.

• The Geological Survey of India announced the discovery of 5.9 million tons of lithium on February 9th, which could place India among the world's top lithium holders and support its electric vehicle (EV) deployment and energy independence.
• Lithium extraction in Jammu and Kashmir, specifically in the Salal area, poses significant environmental risks, including excessive freshwater use, deforestation, and contamination of the Chenab River watershed, in a region already rated as having 'Extremely High' physical water stress.
• The mining project may intensify internal communal tensions in Jammu and Kashmir, as the benefits are unlikely to reach the marginalized Kashmiri Muslim population, while the costs fall on local residents in the Reasi district, which is evenly split between Muslims and Hindus.
• Mining activities could jeopardize the Indus Waters Treaty by impacting the Chenab River, one of the six rivers governed by the agreement, adding to existing tensions over upstream dam construction.
• To mitigate these risks, the author recommends that the U.S. support robust global mining governance, invest in sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium, and implement policies to reduce lithium demand, such as increasing battery recycling and reducing car dependency.

APA

Ellison, T. (2023). Indias Lithium Resources in Kashmir Highlight Conflict Risks Around Critical Minerals. The Council on Strategic Risks. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/03/30/briefer-indias-lithium-resources-in-kashmir-highlight-conflict-risks-around-critical-minerals/

Chicago

Ellison, Tom. Indias Lithium Resources in Kashmir Highlight Conflict Risks Around Critical Minerals. The Council on Strategic Risks, 2023. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/03/30/briefer-indias-lithium-resources-in-kashmir-highlight-conflict-risks-around-critical-minerals/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ellison |first1=Tom |title=Indias Lithium Resources in Kashmir Highlight Conflict Risks Around Critical Minerals |publisher=The Council on Strategic Risks |date=30 March 2023 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/03/30/briefer-indias-lithium-resources-in-kashmir-highlight-conflict-risks-around-critical-minerals/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ellison2023indias, author = {Ellison, Tom}, title = {{Indias Lithium Resources in Kashmir Highlight Conflict Risks Around Critical Minerals}}, institution = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/03/30/briefer-indias-lithium-resources-in-kashmir-highlight-conflict-risks-around-critical-minerals/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }