Li
Lithium
Applications
  • Electric vehicles
    Electric vehicles
  • Aerospace
    Aerospace
  • Energy storage
    Energy storage
  • Glass and ceramics
    Glass and ceramics
  • Photocatalysis
    Photocatalysis
“White oil”
  • As the lightest and least dense metal in nature, lithium is an important element in modern batteries. It is the “white oil” in the renewable energy era, and is key to the global energy transition.
  • In 2021, 6.75 million EVs were sold across the world, an increase of 108% year-on-year. The figure is expected to reach 10 million in 2022 and 20 million in 2025.
  • Despite the abundance of global lithium resources, they are unevenly distributed, mainly in Australia and the Lithium Triangle in South America. There are not many large-scale, high-grade and highly-economic lithium deposits. High-quality lithium resources are scarce.
Emerging as a significant player in the renewable energy industry
Emerging as a significant player in the renewable energy industry
Business

Highlight: Zijin invested in minerals critical to the renewable energy transition at an impressive speed, creating an asset package of “two salars and one mine” by acquiring the 3Q Salar in Argentina, the Lakkor Tso Salar in Tibet and the Xiangyuan Lithium Mine in Daoxian County, Hunan Province.

Resources: Total LCE resources exceed 10 million tonnes, putting Zijin among the top 10 global lithium companies by resources.

Growth potential: In the long run, Zijin plans to produce over 150Kt of LCE per annum, providing a strong basis for it to become a major lithium producer in the world.


Li

Main companies or mines

(click to download excel form)

Name



LCE resources


Planned capacity

3Q Lithium Salar in Argentina

7.63 million tonnes (lithium ion concentration at 400mg/L cut-off)


Phase 1 is designed to produce 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate per annum, with its commissioning scheduled at the end of 2023. The project team has conducted preliminary studies on 40-60Ktpa capacity production. Optimized process flows are expected to help achieve higher lithium recovery and production.

Lakkor Tso Lithium Salar in Tibet

2.14 million tonnes (average lithium ion concentration at 270 mg/L)


Phase 1 is designed to produce 20Ktpa of lithium carbonate, and the combined output will grow to 50Ktpa after Phase 2 is commissioned.

Xiangyuan Hard Rock Lithium Polymetallic Mine

2.16 million tonnes


The project’s designed throughput is 10 million tonnes per annum. When reaching nameplate capacity, it will produce 60,000-70,000 tonnes of LCE from lepidolite ores. The mine will first re-commission the existing 300Ktpa extraction and concentration system.