According to Chinese media on October 3rd, following new exploration activities, the Jiada mine has discovered an additional 1.05 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), bringing the total registered reserves at the mine to approximately 2.53 million tons, a 70.5% increase from the previously registered 1.48 million tons.
Dazhong Mining, the project's managing company, said the additional resources have been reviewed and registered by China's Ministry of Natural Resources. The new resources comprise approximately 33.52 million tons of ore, containing about 423,800 tons of lithium oxide, with an average content of 1.26%.
Lithium is a key ingredient in the production of lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Expanding domestic lithium ore reserves could help China increase its self-sufficiency in raw materials for the battery industry, given its large-scale electric vehicle and battery supply chain.
However, increased resource availability does not necessarily mean immediate lithium production, as the project depends on assessment, investment in mining and processing, technology, and production costs.
China's battery manufacturing industry now holds a central position in the global electric vehicle supply chain. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China will account for more than 80% of global battery cell production by 2025, and also hold more than 80% of lithium-ion battery production capacity.
Chinese companies like CATL and BYD are playing a major role in the electric vehicle battery market, while the country also dominates the production of cathode and anode materials – crucial components of batteries.
Notably, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which have relatively low production costs and are increasingly being used in electric vehicles, are expected to account for over 55% of global electric vehicle battery deployments by 2025, with the majority of supply coming from China.
Therefore, expanding domestic lithium resources is not only related to mineral extraction, but also contributes to strengthening a relatively complete supply chain, from raw materials, battery materials, battery cells to electric vehicle production. This is a significant advantage in the context of continuously increasing global battery demand.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/trung-quoc-phat-hien-them-luong-quang-lithium-khong-lo-tai-tu-xuyen-1759415.html
