The Scramble for Rare Earths - 2. The Hidden Paradox
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The Paradox of Lithium Mining
Lithium is important for things like electric vehicles and transportation systems that don't rely on fossil fuels anymore. But there's a problem with lithium extraction and processing: it requires a lot of water. In Portugal, the government is dangling a pretty big carrot in front of those communities by promising to plow money back into local communities. People in Portugal are far from alone in expressing their concerns. Chile's Atacama desert boasts possibly the largest reserves of lithium in the world but the decision to restart mining there has resulted in a series of protests.
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