Jakarta –
Lithium is one of the most valuable metals on earth. Lithium is the main raw material for modern batteries.
At present the battery has become one of the main sources of energy that is widely used for various devices such as smartphones to electric vehicles (EV). As a result, lithium production is predicted to continue to increase following the development of the smartphone industry to electric cars.
Launching from Reuters, Saturday (22/4/2023), it is known that in 2022 yesterday global lithium production has reached 737,000 tons. Then in 2023 global lithium production is expected to reach 964,000 tons.
It doesn’t stop there, as the industry grows, in 2024 lithium is expected to produce 1,167,000 tons. So which mines are capable of producing the most lithium in the world?
First, Greenbushes located in Australia, belongs to Talison Lithium (a joint venture between Tianqi Lithium, IGO and Albemarle Corp). It is a mine with the largest lithium production capacity in the world. The company’s current production capacity is 1.34 million tonnes per year for chemical grade and technical grade lithium concentrate.
Second, still in Australia, there is the Pilgangoora mine owned by Pilbara Minerals (PLS.AX). This mine is capable of producing 360,000 to 380,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per year.
Third, also still in Australia there is the Mt Cattlin mine owned by Allkem (AKE.AX), a company formed from the merger of Orocobre and Galaxy Resources. This mine is recorded to be able to produce 194,000 tons of spodumene concentrate in 2022.
Fourth, Brazil’s Mibra Minas Gerais mine belonging to the Advanced Metallurgical Group (AMG.AS). The mine can produce 90,000 tons of spodumene per year, with plans to expand to 130,000 tons by the end of the second quarter of 2023.
Fifthback to Australia there is the Mount Marion mine which is capable of producing 450,000 to 600,000 tons of spodumene as of August 2022. In the future, this mine is targeted to expand to 900,000 tons per year delayed until July 2023.
SixthSalar de Atacama, Antofagasta, Chile owned by Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM) (SQMA.SN), produces 180,000 tons of lithium carbonate per year, and is expected to increase to 210,000 by 2024.
SeventhPozuelos-Pastos Grandes lithium salt lake, Argentina, purchased by Ganfeng Lithium (002460.SZ), will produce 30,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate from 2024. Potentially expandable to 50,000 tonnes.
(hns/hns)
