Lithium as a Strategic Resource: Geopolitics, Industrialization, and Mining in Argentina

Dorn, Felix Malte; Peyré, Fernando Ruíz

doi:10.1353/lag.2020.0101

Cited by 21 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…In the academic debate, the governance of lithium has been explored in terms of the extractive industry development implications, structural constraints and possible socioenvironmental impacts (Olivera 2017; Hancock et al 2018;Barandiarán 2019;Fornillo 2019;López, Obaya et al 2019;Dorn and Peyré 2020;Heredia et al 2020;Maxwell and Mora 2020). Of particular relevance is the argument in relation to governance typologies (centralised-hierarchical in Bolivia, market oriented in Argentina and hierarchical but delegated to private industry in Chile) (Obaya and Pascuini 2020).…”

Section: Governance Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in achieving sustainable lithium supply in the Lithium Triangle

et al. 2022

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The electrification transition will intensify the demand for lithium. The endowment in the Lithium Triangle is significant, and the expectations for the global supply are high in terms of resources and sustainability. In this paper, we investigate the impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges to the future of sustainable lithium extraction. We undertook a qualitative analysis to prioritise the risks associated with these challenges and discussed their interlinkages. We argue that a sustainable perspective for lithium extraction in the region requires continuous and informed dialogue among government, industry and community stakeholders and participatory processes that reduce the asymmetries of power and knowledge. We provide a list of urgent mitigation actions that could assist the move towards sustainability. These include the following. First is expanding our understandings of the water cycle of lithium brines in this region. This should be underpinned by baseline data and ongoing monitoring at the watershed scale, capacity building to strengthen institutions, improved regulations and data infrastructures to promote data transparency and accessibility. Second is integrating biodiversity impacts within existing mining practices and procedures (e.g. Environmental Impact Assessments — EIA). We propose the strategic implementation of the mitigation hierarchy and IFC’s Performance Standards to avoid, reduce and offset the risks of lithium extraction on ecosystem services and critically important biodiversity impacts. Third is strengthening social participatory processes that enable the local communities to become actors in decision-making and the ongoing management and monitoring of lithium projects. Fourth is establishing a framework to support a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) process specific to lithium with a regional approach in the Lithium Triangle.

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Section: Governance Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in achieving sustainable lithium supply in the Lithium Triangle

et al. 2022

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“…Conversely, additional processing is required to achieve comparable purity with conventional brine extraction, where initial product purity ranges from 50 to 80% wt (Zhang et al, 2019). Furthermore, the chemicals used for precipitation and the waste produced by this process have raised many socioenvironmental concerns (Anlauf, 2016;Liu et al, 2019;Dorn et al, 2020). There is a threat of Li 2 CO 3 and sodium carbonate leaching into the environment and contaminating the soil, air, and freshwater supply of surrounding communities (Agusdinata et al, 2018).…”

Section: Traditional Lithium Extractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of technologies for direct lithium extraction from low Li+ concentration aqueous solutions

Murphy

Haji

2022

Front. Chem. Eng.

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Under the Paris Agreement, established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, many countries have agreed to transition their energy sources and technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to levels concordant with the 1.5°C warming goal. Lithium (Li) is critical to this transition due to its use in nuclear fusion as well as in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used for energy storage for electric vehicles and renewable energy harvesting systems. As a result, the global demand for Li is expected to reach 5.11 Mt by 2050. At this consumption rate, the Li reserves on land are expected to be depleted by 2080. In addition to spodumene and lepidolite ores, Li is present in seawater, and salt-lake brines as dissolved Li+ ions. Li recovery from aqueous solutions such as these are a potential solution to limited terrestrial reserves. The present work reviews the advantages and challenges of a variety of technologies for Li recovery from aqueous solutions, including precipitants, solvent extractants, Li-ion sieves, Li-ion-imprinted membranes, battery-based electrochemical systems, and electro-membrane-based electrochemical systems. The techno-economic feasibility and key performance parameters of each technology, such as the Li+ capacity, selectivity, separation efficiency, recovery, regeneration, cyclical stability, thermal stability, environmental durability, product quality, extraction time, and energy consumption are highlighted when available. Excluding precipitation and solvent extraction, these technologies demonstrate a high potential for sustainable Li+ extraction from low Li+ concentration aqueous solutions or seawater. However, further research and development will be required to scale these technologies from benchtop experiments to industrial applications. The development of optimized materials and synthesis methods that improve the Li+ selectivity, separation efficiency, chemical stability, lifetime, and Li+ recovery should be prioritized. Additionally, techno-economic and life cycle analyses are needed for a more critical evaluation of these extraction technologies for large-scale Li production. Such assessments will further elucidate the climate impact, energy demand, capital costs, operational costs, productivity, potential return on investment, and other key feasibility factors. It is anticipated that this review will provide a solid foundation for future research commercialization efforts to sustainably meet the growing demand for Li as the world transitions to clean energy.

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“…Exar Mining 23 is currently constructing evaporation pools and plans to enter commercial production by mid-2022. In addition to other licenses, South American Salts 24 and the Canadian company Millennial Lithium have carried out explorations (Dorn and Ruiz Peyré 2020).…”

Section: Argentina: Social Assistance and Non-binding Agreementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given this, we seek to clarify the paradox of salt flat mining and lithium mining in particular, and how local impacts contradict the sustainability claims made for the global green economy. This article is part of a broad interdisciplinary debate on the social-ecological effects of large-scale "mega mining" (Bebbington et al 2008;Dorn 2021c;Dorn and Ruiz Peyré 2020;Svampa 2008Svampa , 2019. Our interest lies in analyzing new social-environmental conflicts in the context of the "sustainability transition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mining companies, indigenous communities, and the state: the political ecology of lithium in Chile (Salar de Atacama) and Argentina (Salar de Olaroz-Cauchari)

Dorn

Gundermann

2022

Journal of Political Ecology

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Based on intensive and long-term field research and document reviews, this article compares the historic evolution of lithium mining in Chile and Argentina. We highlight national development discourses and government regulatory frameworks in both countries. We illustrate and assess the diverse perceptions and strategies of local actors. Finally, we discuss the socio-spatial materialization of lithium mining in terms of power relations, ecology, and economy. Using perspectives from political ecology brings to light different power relations between the state, mining companies, and indigenous communities in Chile and Argentina. These power asymmetries have an enduring influence on local actors’ possibilities for taking action.

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Lithium as a Strategic Resource: Geopolitics, Industrialization, and Mining in Argentina

Cited by 21 publications

References 0 publications

The impacts of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in achieving sustainable lithium supply in the Lithium Triangle

The impacts of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in achieving sustainable lithium supply in the Lithium Triangle

A review of technologies for direct lithium extraction from low Li+ concentration aqueous solutions

Mining companies, indigenous communities, and the state: the political ecology of lithium in Chile (Salar de Atacama) and Argentina (Salar de Olaroz-Cauchari)

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