NMDC is the majority owner of a mine located in Mt Bevan in Australia, a second NMDC official, who is not authorised to speak to media, said, adding that the company hopes to start mining within two years. India has been exploring ways to secure supplies of lithium, an important raw material used to make electric vehicle batteries, from some of the world's top producers by acquiring overseas mines, as part of the South Asian nation's efforts to push for making greener vehicles.