Catalyst with Shayle Kann

Lithium’s wild ride

57 snips
Jan 2, 2025
Ernest Scheyder, author of "The War Below" and senior correspondent at Reuters, dives into the tumultuous world of lithium. He explains why the majority of lithium now comes from hard rock sources rather than salt brines. The conversation covers the dramatic price swings of lithium—with skyrocketing values in 2022 followed by a crash—and how this affects the EV market. Scheyder also discusses Chile's nationalization efforts and the challenges surrounding direct lithium extraction technologies, highlighting the geopolitical influences shaping the industry's future.
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INSIGHT

Lithium Sources

  • Lithium comes from two main sources: brine (salty water) and hard rock.
  • Brine is extracted via evaporation ponds, while hard rock involves traditional mining.
INSIGHT

Hard Rock vs. Brine Production

  • Hard rock lithium production currently exceeds brine production due to faster processing times.
  • Lithium hydroxide is easier to make from hard rock lithium.
INSIGHT

Lithium Chemicals and Use Cases

  • Lithium carbonate and hydroxide have different use cases depending on battery performance needs.
  • Lithium hydroxide, better for high-performance batteries, is typically more expensive.
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