Something incredible has been found in China: a million tons of lithium. Are we going to talk about something very scientific? Exactly, but don’t panic because we are going to use very common vocabulary, because this discovery is so important that everybody needs to know about it.
The thing is that lithium is a key material to make batteries, and thanks to this huge amount of lithium found, China has become a leading country in electronics, electric cars, and energy systems. So, let’s find out more about this, shall we?
Lithium discovery in China
About 1,000,000 tons of lithium were found buried under the mountains in China, such a huge amount of lithium could make the entire country focus on lithium as an energy source and pay less attention to hydrogen and nuclear energy.
The lithium was in the Jiajika Lithium Mine, in Sichuan. The most important thing is that lithium is near the surface, which changes everything because when a mineral is not very deep:
- You don’t need deep, dangerous drilling.
- Machines don’t need to be extremely big or complicated.
- Mining becomes cheaper and safer.
- Workers face fewer risks like toxic gases, heat, or collapses.
This gives China a great advantage. Since it’s easy to extract it, they can get lithium faster, refine it, and turn it into technology products without delays or high costs.
Lithium and worldwide technology
Lithium is an essential material for rechargeable batteries, which are in almost every modern device. These batteries are used for:
- Smartphones.
- Laptops.
- Drones.
- Smartwatches.
- Digital cameras.
- Power banks.
- Smart home gadgets.
Since we live in a world full of technology, having so much lithium is like owning a treasure. It allows China to manufacture so many batteries and also sell them to other countries.
However, lithium is essential for something bigger: electric cars. These vehicles don’t work with gasoline, but with lithium batteries. For example, in 2024, China manufactured 70% of the electric cars in the world and all of them used lithium-ion batteries.
What’s more, China sells these batteries to very popular brands like: Tesla, Volkswagen, BMW, and Ford.
Hydrogen and nuclear energy
Why is lithium gaining more protagonism than hydrogen and nuclear energy? Let’s find out:
- Hydrogen: it seems clean, but most hydrogen (gray or blue) releases carbon dioxide, which pollutes. Then, “green hydrogen” is very expensive to produce, and storing hydrogen safely requires advanced, expensive equipment.
- Nuclear energy: it is very powerful, but it needs extreme safety measures, it requires big and expensive systems; and the process is much more complex.
So, if we compare them with lithium, the latter is easier to extract, cheaper, less risky, and useful for what the world needs today: electric cars and devices.
To sum up
What does all this mean for you and me? Well, next time you pick up your smartphone, hop into an electric car, or charge your laptop, remember—China’s hidden mountain of lithium is helping make it all possible! It’s not just a rock in the ground; it’s a powerhouse for technology, clean energy, and the gadgets we can’t live without.
So, the next time someone mentions lithium, don’t just think “metal.” Think power, innovation, and a world that’s charging ahead—literally!