Today join @Margot in this little video about lithium.
Lithium is a silvery metal, lighter than water.
It has been used in the glass and ceramics industries for two centuries, but it has only recently come to the forefront.
The switch from battery technology to lithium was prompted by a European directive designed to protect its citizens from the harmful effects of heavy metals on health.
The consumption of lithium related to the manufacture of these batteries has increased by 20% over the past ten years.
The price of lithium carbonate has more than tripled between 2014 and 2018 because of concerns about a coming shortage, wrongly. In fact from South America to Australia, reserves abound and exploration is in full swing.
Argentina, Chile and Bolivia form the famous lithium triangle. Together, these three countries account for half of the world’s reserves. Australia is now the leading producer of lithium.
Nevertheless, the Chinese are also very present on this market. They invested billions of dollars very early and bought many mines to supply their factories. Chinese companies already control half of the world’s lithium production.
In conclusion, despite its abundance, lithium remains a highly strategic metal today
