Australia: World’s Biggest Lithium Ion Producer

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Ahoy there, mate! Did you know that the Great Outback has beaten Chile as the world’s largest lithium-producing nation in the world? Yes, Australia is currently the biggest lithium Ion producer. Two major mines are responsible for this, according to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Australia Versus Chile:

Down Under produced 18,700 tonnes of lithium in 2017 alone because of Western-Australia based mines: Galaxy Resources’ Mt Cattlin and Mt Marion, which are owned by Neometals and China’s Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium.

In 2017, Chile, which has the largest known lithium reserves in the world, produced 14,100 tonnes of the metal. Its market share dropped from 37.6 per cent in 2016 t 32.8 per cent in 2017. Australia went from having 36.8 per cent of the global market to 435 per cent at the same time.

The Case of Chile:

Chilean authorities believes that the situation in Chile will subside as the South American country’s development agency, Corfo, struck a deal with SQM, allowing it to increase production of lithium from 40,000 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes this year, and eventually to 100,000 tonnes by 2019. In 2021, the total output of lithium is predicted to reach at least 147,000 tonnes.

The country is also planning on building a downstream process and battery industry. All of their reserves are found in brines, which are located underneath its salt flats that are located in the north.

Brines only need enough space for evaporation to occur which is taken care of by the fun, as well as the solid surface that is a salt flat. Conversely, Australia’s reserves are found in hard rock sources, which makes them more expensive to process than brines.

If the price of lithium decreases, hard rock mines would be the first to shut down. By 2035, Chile may have an industry worth ten billion, composed of carbonate and lithium hydroxide output as well as additionally valued products like cathodes.

Demand for Lithium Comprised Materials:

The demand for electric vehicles is expected to increase within the next five to ten years. China is working to secure lithium supplies with local companies in Australia, as well as in Chile, Canada, and Africa.

Western companies have not yet shown the same interest in lithium supplies, despite the fact that North America and Europe have limited lithium resources and they heavily rely on imports.

What’s Next?

In North America, miners are looking for untapped lithium deposits that might compete against the big finds in South America and Australia.We hope everyone’s putting the environment’s interest first…

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About Author

Nadia Zaidi is a freelance multimedia journalist whose work is featured in several print and digital publications. She previously developed and hosted a show on youth issues for community television, and produces short-documentaries for public outreach. She holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Ryerson University.

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