Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the town of Al-Qlailah, Southern Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strikes town of Harouf, Nabatieh district.
Factions' statement: The attendees agreed to support and continue implementing the ceasefire agreement measures, including the withdrawal of the occupation and lifting the siege.
Factions' statement: Calling for an end to all forms of torture and violations against prisoners in occupation prisons and the necessity of obligating the occupation to do so.
Statement: The current moment is crucial, making the meeting a true turning point toward national unity in defense of our people and their right to life, dignity, and freedom.
Factions' statement: Call for an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy.
Factions' statement: Continuing joint work to unify visions and positions to confront the challenges facing the Palestinian cause.
Statement of the factions: Emphasis on the unity of the Palestinian political system and the independent national decision.
Statement: Approval to establish an international committee to oversee the financing and implementation of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Statement: The committee is responsible for managing life and services in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions, based on transparency and accountability.

Europe seeking to expand lithium mining as cars go green

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 13 Jan 2022 19:54
3 Min Read

With the world aiming for green cars in the near future as the threat of the climate crisis looms, Europe is seeking an expansion in its lithium mining despite warnings of the environmental repercussions.

  • x
  • Europe will not even meet more than 30% of its lithium, cobalt, and lithium needs in 2030 with demands expected to be 40 times higher by 2040
    Europe will not even meet more than 30% of its lithium, cobalt, and lithium needs in 2030 with demands expected to be 40 times higher by 2040

Europe eyes expanding its lithium mining and refining capacity and accustom itself to imports as the resource reportedly becomes vital in the fight against climate change.

Lithium, cobalt, and nickel allow electricity to be stored and transported, making the resources essential in the production of electric batteries as car manufacturers attempt to move from the polluting fossil fuels, which have been a major contributor to the climate crisis ravaging the planet.

Europe is mainly dependant on external sources for the precious metals key in the shift from fossil fuels.

Australia is the world's biggest producer of "white gold," whereas China homes 60% of global lithium refining, a process that transforms the metal into carbonate or lithium hydroxide.

Europe "really is not on the map" in terms of mining or processing lithium, according to Robert Colbourn, an analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

Despite having lithium mines and developing some, the lithium produced on the old continent is not of battery-grade, he said.

By 2030 Europe is probably going to need over 500,000 tons of lithium a year

The International Energy Agency predicts global demand for lithium will be 40-folds greater by 2040. Lithium produced in 2021 amounts to 475,000 tonnes.

Related News

China counters US maritime bloc with sanctions on Hanwha Ocean

US China talks in Malaysia called ‘very constructive’ by US Treasury

By 2030, Europe would not have even met 30% of its needs of the three metals-, a report submitted by the French government said.

"Our forecast is that by 2030 Europe is probably going to need over 500,000 tons of lithium a year, which is bigger than the world market today," said Colbourn, adding that battery production was driving the surging demand.

The European Union has recently added lithium to its list of critical metals.

The bloc does not know how to it will be supplying the planned 38 new electric plants across the continent with the required materials, with the French side stressing the need for strong measures as the 27 nation bloc prepares for the shift from oil to metals.

So far, France sees that the EU "[depends] far too much on external powers, especially China."

Europe's Mineral resources

Europe does not lack lithium, nickel, or cobalt, with deposits in Germany, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and France, with the latter allocating some billion euros for the extraction or refining of the coveted metals.

Germany and Portugal have plans to expand mining and refining; however, this comes amid stark warnings over the adverse effects of increased mining activity on the environment, making the solution to the crisis a problem as well.

On September 11, around 2000 protesters marched through the streets of Belgrade demanding Serbia's government to take more action to prevent industrial pollution, with some denouncing plans by Anglo-Australian mining firm Rio Tinto aimed at establishing a lithium mine in the country.

Europe could also seek an increase in its lithium sources in Latin America. Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina form what is known as a "lithium triangle," which is the world's second-largest producer of the so-called "white gold".

Western aspirations to accessing Bolivia's deposits had led to a US-backed coup that forced former President Evo Morales to resign at the time.

  • United States
  • Lithium
  • Chile
  • Europe
  • China
  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Australia
  • European Union

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Undated photo of Hanwha Ocean’s Goeje Shipyard in South Korea (Hanwha Ocean)
Politics

China counters US maritime bloc with sanctions on Hanwha Ocean

Catherine Connolly speaks after being after being elected as the new President of Ireland at Dublin Castle, Ireland, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Connolly wins Irish presidency in blow to political establishment

Buildings destroyed during the Israeli air and ground offensive are seen in the Al-Shati camp, in Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel's' post-ceasefire demolitions in Gaza violate agreement: Hamas

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran’s Araghchi: Our nuclear bomb is resilience, not weapons

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS