China Becomes World's Second-Largest Holder of Lithium Reserves

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China has significantly increased its lithium reserves, now controlling 16.5% of global lithium resources, placing it behind only Chile, according to the state news agency Xinhua. The nation previously held an estimated 6% of global reserves but has tripled its holdings due to new discoveries and advanced extraction technologies.

A major find is a 1,740-mile spodumene belt located in Tibet, which could potentially contain upwards of 30 million tons of lithium. Additionally, explorations of salt lakes on the Tibetan Plateau are expected to reveal over 14 million tons of lithium, ranking as the third-largest of its kind globally.

Chinese researchers have also improved extraction methods, particularly for lepidolite, aiming to unlock an additional 10 million tons in provinces like Jiangxi. This expansion in lithium resources is essential for China's booming new energy sector, particularly for electric vehicle batteries, as the country accounted for 76% of global lithium-ion battery production capacity in 2022.

As China reduces its reliance on imported lithium, the discoveries are expected to alleviate production costs and stimulate the domestic lithium industry while also addressing the environmental challenges linked to lithium mining.

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