Lithium: Indian companies should import Lithium from Argentina instead of China, says Argentina Ambassador

Hugo Javier Gobbi, Argentina Ambassador today invited Indian companies to import Lithium from Argentina instead of China. Currently, China is India’s leading supplier of lithium.
Addressing an electric vehicles conclave today, – Gobbi, the Argentina Ambassador stated that there were complementarities between India and Argentina regarding critical minerals like Lithium and Copper which are required for electric vehicles and sustainable energy solutions, as India had a huge demand for these metals and Argentina has huge reserves of these minerals.
He again appealed that India should source Lithium directly from Argentina rather than from China and reduce dependence on China.
“India’s transition to electric mobility is not merely a choice; it is an imperative for the sustainable future of our nation,” says Devansh Jain, Chair – RE Committee, PHDCCI.
Further, Devansh added, “Electric vehicles hold the key to reducing our carbon footprint, improving air quality, and enhancing energy efficiency. The internal combustion engine, once the symbol of progress and prosperity, is now recognized as a major contributor to environmental degradation.”

Ayush Lohia, CEO, Lohia Auto Industrie expressed his optimism for the EV sector in India and informed that an EV revolution was round the corner. He stressed on skill development especially in Electromechanical Engineering), R&D and customer service to facilitate EV revolution in India.
Deb Mukherjee, CEO, Omega Seiki Mobility, informed that EV revolution is a huge opportunity for India, specially for MSMEs. He suggested that India should focus on manufacturing EV parts, powertrain and batteries.
India is the first major developing country to join the mineral security partnership in June 2023 which helps it to secure and build a resilient supply chain for critical minerals. Similarly, India & Australia have also signed the Critical Minerals Investment Partnership, a major milestone for India towards investment in critical minerals and develop strong supply chains between the two countries.