Western Australia has generous lithium reserves, and is second to Democratic Republic of Congo for cobalt. However, its products are in lower demand because of health and safety standard costs. Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston told Sydney Morning Herald about a new marketing strategy on August 29, 2018. Because we are about to exploit the benefits of ethical supply chains, he explained.
How Western Australia Could Claim an Ethical Advantage
“If you’re getting your component from a Western Australia-based industry, then you know it represents high moral standards,” he says. “Moreover, the indigenous people had a say over the question of mining, and had a stake in that process.
“The workers were properly paid, furthermore there were no children working in a mine, and the environment was being properly protected. Plus, there were high health and safety standards in the plans,” he presses his argument hard. He may have a point; in fact we hope he succeeds. Since we really need to start asking suppliers, “What is your carbon footprint, what was your ethical supply chain?”
However, Western Australia First Needs a Precursor Plant
The lithium hydroxide Western Australia mines first need processing into precursor chemicals. These must be able to produce a reaction forming other compounds. Then these lithium materials can go into cathodes and ultimately become the heart of the battery.
Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston is hoping to create a ‘lithium valley’ in his state, that will become an international center for excellence. We are pleased somebody influential has initiated the debate over ethical lithium batteries. Because we are using them in the most elegant equipment humankind ever created.
Lithium batteries are taking our spacecraft into deep space, and powering equipment for life saving surgery. They are with us in our phones everywhere we go. Study your phone carefully for a moment. Was the mine the lithium came from environmentally responsible? Are these mines displacing indigenous people from their ancestral homes in the process? It would be horrible if they were, without adequate compensation, therefore it is high time we know.
Related
Will We Ever Have Child Labor-Free Batteries?
Cobalt’s Role in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Preview Image: Child Labor in Democratic Republic of Congo Cobalt Mine
