KABIL Secures Five Lithium Blocks in
Argentina for Deep Exploration
¨
Khanij Bidesh India
Limited (KABIL) has secured five critical mineral blocks in Argentina for deep
exploration of brine lithium in Catamarca province.
¨
KABIL is a joint venture
under the Ministry of Mines comprising National Aluminium Company Limited,
Hindustan Copper Limited, and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited.
¨
KABIL was established in
2019 to secure critical mineral resources for India from overseas sources.
¨
Its mandate is to
identify, acquire, and develop overseas mineral assets to support India’s
resource security.
¨
Critical minerals are
minerals with high economic importance and significant supply-chain risks.
¨
Lithium is one of the
most important critical minerals due to its extensive use in batteries and
energy storage systems.
¨
The five lithium blocks
secured by KABIL are Cortadera-I, Cortadera-VII, Cortadera-VIII,
Cateo-2022-01810132, and Cortadera-VI.
¨
These blocks cover an
area of approximately 15,703 hectares in Catamarca province.
¨
Catamarca is located
within South America’s renowned “Lithium Triangle,” one of the world’s richest
lithium-bearing regions.
¨
On 10 April 2026, KABIL
received environmental clearance from the Argentine government for deep
exploration of these lithium brine blocks.
¨
The clearance permits
borehole drilling, geological surveys, and exploratory drilling activities.
¨
These exploration
activities will help assess the volume and quality of lithium deposits in the
area.
¨
The project is expected
to strengthen India’s critical mineral supply chain and support the growing
demand for lithium in clean energy, battery manufacturing, and electric vehicle
(EV) sectors.
