Lithium (periodic table symbol Li) is the lightest solid metal with a soft, silvery-white colour, low melting point, and high reactivity. Its physical and chemical properties are more similar to alkaline earth metals than to its own group.
Although it is moderately abundant and present in the earth’s crust, it does not occur freely in nature.
Spodumene is the most commonly produced lithium mineral concentrate, predominantly in Australia, China, and Brazil. Spodumene predominantly occurs within pegmatitic deposits.
Petalite is a lithium mineral produced predominantly in Southern Africa, occurring within pegmatitic and granitic deposits. Petalite concentrate is mainly produced in Zimbabwe.
Lepidolite is a lithium mica mineral occurring largely within pegmatitic and granitic-type deposits. Lepidolite concentrate is produced largely in China.
Lithium is used in the production of ceramics, glass, lubricants, metallurgical polymers, and pharmaceuticals, but its highest demand is mainly driven by its use in lithium-ion batteries.
Its high electrochemical potential, low density and weight make it ideal for use in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage. Lithium therefore is poised to have a critical role in powering the world’s clean energy transition and is rapidly increasing in importance to the global economy.
As a potentially significant lithium mine in Africa, Andrada is well-equipped to meet the growing critical metal demand and play a key role in a low carbon future.
To meet the expected demand for electric vehicles and stationary storage applications, experts estimate that at least 20 new lithium mines with an average size of 25 ktpa would need to be developed by 2025.
Battery-grade lithium compounds are expected to be the largest driver for total lithium demand going forward. This type of high-performing batteries was present in the technology roadmaps of most global automakers in 2020 as they could be the key enablers of long-distance driving EV ranges.
In the next several years, Europe plans to build 16 new lithium battery factories to increase its capacity by 300-400 GWh. To that effect, demand for lithium is expected to increase six-fold by 2030 due to the expansion of the battery sector and the adoption of electronic vehicles.
