Lithium is a very light, naturally occurring, chemically active metal belonging to the alkali metal group. It reacts with water, releasing hydrogen gas. It is silvery/white in color, but it darkens quickly in air due to oxidation. It is soft and can be cut with a knife.
It does not occur naturally in its pure form due to its reactivity, but rather in compounds such as sludge, clays, and salt lakes. It is extracted from minerals or saline spring water. It is used in rechargeable batteries and in psychiatry, such as lithium carbonate, which is used to treat bipolar disorder. It is also used in the manufacture of heat-resistant glass and ceramics, industrial lubricants, and nuclear fusion reactors.
Lithium carbonate is not found in its pure form in nature due to its reactivity. However, today lithium is considered a strategic metal due to its pivotal role in clean energy and advanced technologies. According to 2023-2024 data, the world's leading lithium producers are Australia, which ranks first in mining production and accounts for approximately 50% of global supply. Chile comes in second globally in production and first in reserves. China ranks third in production but is the leader in processing and refining, holding an estimated 60% of global lithium carbonate refining capacity. Argentina follows in fourth place, the United States in fifth, Bolivia in sixth, and Canada, Portugal, and Zimbabwe in fifth. The main exporting countries are:
1. Australia: Exports concentrated ore primarily to China for refining.
2. Chile and Argentina: Export refined lithium carbonate to Asia, Europe, and North America.
3. China: Exports manufactured lithium products such as batteries and chemicals but imports a significant amount of ore.
Conclusion: China is the global dominant player, although Australia produces more. China dominates refining and manufacturing, with an estimated 75% of the world's refined lithium carbonate coming from China. In response to China's global dominance, the United States and the European Union have adopted a strategic approach, striving to build alternative supply chains to China through investments in South America and Africa.
Bolivia's reserves are estimated to be enormous, but it faces technical and political challenges that hinder their full exploitation. Indonesia plans to enter the market by extracting lithium from recycled wastewater in nickel mines. The geopolitical landscape of lithium is undergoing rapid transformations as industrialized nations compete to secure supplies of this vital metal and control the clean energy market. One question remains: Where will Russia stand on the energy and mining map? Will it remain in its traditional sphere of influence in South America, or will it expand its presence in Africa?