US Sounds 'Alarm Bell' Over Securing Battery Material 'White Gold' [Correspondent Diary]

US Media Emphasize Need for Lithium Securing Daily
Diplomatic Conflict with Bolivia, Largest Producer, Makes Solution Difficult
Exploring Domestic Mine Development... Gates Also Invests in Related Technology
Environmental Destruction Controversy Exists but "Clean Energy Benefits Are Greater"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The United States, having declared a transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles, is clearly turning its attention to raw materials as it resolves the issue of securing domestic battery production bases.

Having attracted battery plants from South Korea's LG Energy and SK Innovation, a prescription for fundamentally completing the battery supply chain has been issued.

Lithium Triangle

Recently, U.S. media outlets have been continuously releasing reports related to lithium. Major media organizations capable of influencing U.S. politics and business, such as The New York Times (NYT), CNN, and The Wall Street Journal, are competitively reporting on the necessity of securing lithium.

Lithium is an essential mineral for manufacturing secondary batteries, including those used in electric vehicles. Even if large-scale battery factories are established in the U.S., it is futile without lithium.

With battery and electric vehicle factories becoming increasingly visible, lithium is the final puzzle piece for the Biden administration's electric vehicle transition strategy.

As demand rises with the expansion of electric vehicles, lithium prices are soaring, and securing lithium has now emerged as a national security issue.

The media primarily emphasize securing lithium produced overseas.

The Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia are rapidly emerging from a tourist destination to a lithium mine.

Currently, the representative lithium-producing country worldwide is Bolivia in Latin America. The Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia, once famous as a salt lake tourist destination, is now being re-evaluated as a 'lithium mecca.' Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina are collectively called the 'Lithium Triangle,' where about 90% of the world's lithium reserves are concentrated.

The NYT's concern that China and Russia have secured lithium production rights in Bolivia is read as a stimulus prompting change in the U.S.

U.S. media have focused on 'EnergyX,' which introduced technology to extract lithium from brine but is facing difficulties in advancing its business in Bolivia.

Tig Egan, CEO of EnergyX, was a Tesla electric vehicle owner. During a trip to Bolivia, he connected the salt of the Uyuni Salt Flat with batteries and decided to start the company. Egan found hints for separating lithium from brine in a paper by Betty Freeman, a chemical engineering professor at the University of Texas.

The two established EnergyX and have been knocking on the doors of the Bolivian government, but the doors have not opened easily. He expressed dissatisfaction to the NYT that China and Russia are dominating the Bolivian lithium market. The NYT also introduced Egan's remark describing Bolivia as the new Saudi Arabia.

Planned lithium mine site located in the state of Nevada.

The problem is politics. The Biden administration, which prioritizes human rights, is unlikely to improve relations with Bolivia, posing an obstacle to securing lithium. Bolivia was not even invited to the recent Democracy Summit led by President Biden.

CNN highlighted lithium mines in Nevada and North Carolina. CNN introduced 'platinum,' commonly seen in the volcanic areas of northern Nevada. It is lithium.

The representative lithium mine in the U.S. is located in Thacker Pass, Nevada. This site is considered one of the world's largest lithium deposits.

Lithium Americas' subsidiary, Lithium Nevada Corporation, received approval for lithium mining at Thacker Pass in January. Jonathan Evans, CEO of Lithium Americas, claimed, "Thacker Pass is the largest known lithium deposit in North America. The U.S. is at a very significant opportunity point as it transitions to clean energy."

Lithium Americas has been hoping to mine lithium since 2022. CEO Evans emphasized that the U.S. is an importer of lithium and explained, "We can also produce lithium domestically."

While investment and policy support for lithium are accelerating, the obstacle is the environment. CNN reported that there is public opposition to development at the planned lithium mine site. To proceed with development, it is necessary to protect the flora and fauna inhabiting the site and overcome opposition from indigenous peoples who consider the area sacred.

U.S. media evaluations seem to lean toward supporting development. CNN introduced the assessment of Glenn Miller, former professor of environmental science at the University of Nevada, Reno. Professor Miller said, "I believe the benefits of clean energy obtained through lithium mining outweigh the environmental issues that arise during the development process."

Professor Miller emphasized lithium as a key component for the transition to electric vehicles, warning, "Radical environmental activists may argue that the only way to solve climate change is to drive much less and stop using fossil fuels, but that will not happen."

Investment magnates are also turning their eyes to lithium. The investment fund 'Breakthrough Energy Ventures,' founded by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, recently invested $10 million in the lithium startup 'Mangrove Lithium,' which has no performance or customers yet.

Mangrove Lithium is a company that refines lithium to a grade usable in batteries. While production yields through brine or lithium ore are about 50%, Mangrove claims it can increase yields up to 90%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.