China has significantly increased its lithium reserves, establishing itself as the world’s second-largest holder of the metal, which is essential for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy technology.
China’s global share of lithium rose from 6% to 16.5%, surpassing countries such as Australia, Argentina and Bolivia, state news agency Xinhua said. The only country with more lithium reserves than China is Chile.
This surge in reserves is due to new discoveries and advanced extraction techniques that enable more efficient recovery of lithium from a variety of mineral sources.
A major discovery in Tibet has revealed that the 1,740-mile spodumene belt is estimated to contain more than 6.5 million tonnes of lithium, with some predictions that the total amount could reach up to 30 million tonnes. . Furthermore, the salt lakes on the Tibetan Plateau are estimated to contain more than 14 million tons of lithium, making them the third largest reserves of their kind in the world.
Advances in Chinese extraction technology also play an important role. Researchers have made significant progress in processing lepidolite, a mineral that was previously difficult to extract due to its high cost and technical difficulties.
This breakthrough is expected to secure an additional 10 million tonnes of lithium in Jiangxi province, with further potential expected in Hunan province and Inner Mongolia.
These new lithium reserves discoveries come as China continues to expand its new energy sector, driven by demand for electric vehicles and electronics.
By 2022, China will account for 76% of the world’s lithium-ion battery production capacity. The country’s growing lithium reserves are expected to reduce its dependence on imports, which had previously driven up production costs.
China is also investing in lithium mining outside its borders.
Mali plans to double production in the next phase, with an ambitious target of 506,000 tonnes per year, despite security concerns and challenges posed by local mining regulations. , one of the world’s largest untapped lithium reserves is being developed.
These developments, alongside China’s continued innovation in extraction methods, are poised to help address the global lithium supply squeeze and ensure a more stable market in the future.
