India and Argentina Ink A Strategic Agreement on Lithium

India has sought cooperation in lithium mining and supply from Argentina, Bolivia since February, and Chile in the "lithium triangle" region of South America. Last week, Khanij Bidesh and the Argentine mining company Hu Jujuy Energia y Mineria Sociedad del Estado (JEMSE) signed a strategic cooperation agreement on exploration and the product supply.

The MoU was inked between JEMSE, an Argentine state-owned enterprise, and the Indian joint venture company namely Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL). In was done in the presence of the Governor of the Argentine Province of Jujuy, Gerardo Morales, together with the head of JEMSE, Felipe Albornoz, and the CEO of KABIL, Ranjit Rath. In the video conference the province's Secretary of Mining, Miguel Soler, participated in the meeting, together with the Indian Minister of Mines, Sushil Kumar and the ambassadors of both countries, Dinesh Bhatia for India, and Daniel Chuburu for Argentina.

According to the agreement, the two companies will cooperate in a series of projects including exploration and extraction processes for products related to lithium and polymetallic materials. The project work area of the two parties' cooperation is mainly located in Jujuy Province, which is rich in Li resources in Argentina.

Khanij Bidesh is a joint venture between Indian National Aluminum Corporation (Nalco) and Hindustan Copper and Mineral Exploration. The purpose of establishing this joint venture is to explore and produce strategically important minerals such as lithium overseas for domestic consumption in the country.

"In order to develop a competitive EV battery industry, India needs not only to acquire a substantial amount of lithium but also needs to access to the best quality raw materials, which can be found in Argentina,” Daniel Chuburu, ambassador of Argentina in India said in a report.

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