Top 8 Lithium Reserves Countries in the World
The automobile sector is moving towards eco-friendly, Emission-less transmission systems. This can be achieved by using e-mobility technology i.e. EV technology.
In Electric Vehicles the power source as we can say Fuel to run the transmission system is the traction battery pack. Lithium-ion cells are used to design the traction battery pack. Lithium-ion is the most popular rechargeable battery chemical used today. Lithium-ion batteries power the devices we use every day, such as our mobile phones and electric vehicles.
The following are the top 8 countries with the largest lithium reserves in the world:
1. Chile
Among all over the world, Chile holds the first position as the largest producer of Lithium. Chile has approximate holds 48% of the Lithium reserves in the world. Chile has 9,200,200 MT of lithium reserves. Atacama Desert’s salt is the place in Chile where lithium is found. The majority of the extraction of lithium takes place from this site. Chile produces Lithium Carbonate, Lithium Hydroxide, and Lithium Chloride.
Albemarle Corp. and Sociedad Quimica Miner De Chile SA are operated large lithium mines all over the county. Chile is the largest supplier of Lithium to the world. The Maricunga Lithium brine Project is a major Lithium mine project in Chile.
2. Australia
Australia is the exporter of lithium to the world. Australia comes the second place for holding most of the lithium reserves. Australia holds 5.7 Million metric tons of lithium reserves. In Western Australia, the Greenbushes lithium mine is an open pit mine where hard rock lithium is found. It’s the largest Lithium mine in Australia.
The Lithium Mines in Australia are owned by Talison Lithium. Most Australian Lithium is exported to China
3. Argentina
Current time period Argentina holds 21% of Lithium of the world reserves. Argentina has 2,200,000MT Lithium reserves. Kachi lithium Mine in Catamarca where most of the lithium is found in Argentina. Currently, there are only 2 Lithium mines active.
In Argentina, Lithium Carbonate is mostly found. LSC Lithium BV owns the Lithium mines in Argentina. Sal De Vida Project is the development stage lithium project in Argentina.
4. China
China holds lithium reserves near 1,500,000 MT. China controlled lithium processing and refining. China holds less than 25% of its lithium reserves. China imports raw lithium from various county, refine and processing of raw lithium takes place in China as a result 65% of world lithium is refined and processed in China.
China manufactures Lithium Ion cells and Battery Components. Lake Zabuye is the place in China where lithium reserves are found. Lithium Carbonate is mainly found in China. Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium owns the Lithium in China.
5. United states
The United States holds nearly 8 Million (7.5MT approx.) tons of Lithium. The United States produces 2% world’s lithium. The United States has only one active Lithium mine in Nevada.
Thacker Pass lithium mine comes under the lithium clay mining development Humboldt Country, Nevada is the largest deposit in the US. Cypress Development Corp and Lithium Americas Corp own the lithium reserves in the US.
6. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is also known for its Lithium reserves in the world. Zimbabwe has the largest lithium reserves in Africa. Around 11 MT of lithium, reserves are found in Zimbabwe. Lithium is found in Bikita Mines, situated in the Bikita Hills of Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe. Sinomine Resource Group Company owns the Bikita Mine. In Bikita mines, lithium-containing rocks, i.e. spodumene concentrate are found. This Spodumene is used for the production of lithium carbonate.
7. Brazil
Brazil has 1.5% of shares in lithium production in the world. Brazil has 95,000 MT of Lithium reserves. Currently, Brazil is a moderate-level lithium Producer Country. Lithium Mines are found in Minas Gerais in Brazil and a publically traded company, lithium Ionic owns a 100% stake in the Itinga Lithium Project of Brazil.
Domestic Production of Lithium Carbonate is very low in Brazil.
8. Portugal
Portugal has 60,000 MT known lithium reserves. Europe has only one Lithium mine and it is in Portugal. European countries import unrefined lithium from major producer countries like Australia, Chile, etc. in the Northern Portugal area the Barroso Lithium Project is set up for the mining of lithium. Hard rock Spodumene is found in Portugal.
