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Within the huge, nearly haunting expanse of the excessive Argentine desert, beneath layers of brine and time, lies a component that would simply be mistaken for desk salt. But, this mineral holds the important thing to energy electrical automobiles, cell telephones, and the entire inexperienced power revolution. They name it “white gold” – lithium.
The Cauchari-Olaroz mine, situated in Argentina’s Jujuy province, guarantees to churn out 40,000 tons of lithium over the following 40 years. However extra riveting than the mineral is the unusual company partnership extracting it. The mine is collectively owned by Canada’s Lithium Americas and China’s Ganfeng Lithium.
As the US and China compete globally, Western corporations are searching for methods to “decouple” or “de-risk” from their erstwhile Chinese language counterparts. Each firm is feeling the ripples, particularly these within the international hunt for crucial minerals. However on this tempest, an oasis emerges: South America’s Lithium Triangle, encompassing Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. The Canadian-Chinese language mining enterprise at Cauchari-Olaroz typifies the continued China-West collaboration in South America’s lithium heartland. However within the age of strategic competitors, how lengthy will this tango final?
Chinese language, Western, and Native Collaborations
Over the previous 5 a long time, Chinese language mining corporations like Ganfeng, Tianqi, and Zijin have gained partial or majority management over crucial mineral mines all over the world. Examples embrace CMOC’s 80 p.c stake within the largest cobalt mine within the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chinese language corporations’ large funding in Indonesia’s nickel trade. Lithium isn’t any exception; Chinese language corporations bought half of all of the world’s largest lithium mines put available on the market since 2018.
Chinese language companies additionally aggressively invested in “junior mining corporations,” daredevil entities that tackle the dangers of uncovering nature’s buried treasures. Sometimes birthed within the mining cradles of Canada and Australia and nursed on their respective inventory exchanges, these junior miners are all the time thirsty for capital. And Chinese language financiers have been all too glad to step in when Western buyers have been busy swooning over the most recent tech ventures.
A 3rd technique is to enter into joint ventures with Western and native corporations. In Australia, Tianqi has a 51 p.c stake in Greenbushes, the biggest lithium mine on the planet; U.S.-based firm Albemarle owns the opposite 49 p.c. Ganfeng acquired a major stake in Mt Marion, one other huge lithium mine, together with Australian firm Mineral Assets. The irony is that Australian miners, who churn out greater than half of the world’s lithium, find yourself sending nearly all of it to China, the place almost all of the world’s refining capability resides.
South America can be replete with these sorts of multinational partnerships. In Chile, Tianqi bought a 23 p.c stake within the nation’s largest lithium producer, SQM, and is trying to improve that stake. Chinese language electrical automotive maker BYD is engaged on a $290 million lithium cathode battery manufacturing manufacturing unit in northern Chile.
In Argentina, Ganfeng and Lithium Americas share possession of the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium mine. Ganfeng is almost all proprietor of Argentine Minera Exar, and not too long ago purchased native Lithea Inc from Argentine oil firm PlusPetrol for $962 million. Zijin is at the moment courting Argentina’s state-run agency YPF to construct a lithium battery cathode plant in Catamarca province, and already owns the Tres Quebradas lithium mine. Chinese language carmakers Chery and Gotion are drawing up blueprints for a $400 million EV battery and automotive manufacturing unit in Jujuy province.
And in Bolivia, Chinese language consortium CATL received the bid by Bolivian state-owned YLB to assemble two lithium carbonate crops within the Uyuni salt mine for $1.4 billion. Chinese language firm CITIC Guoan and Russian Uranium One Group will pool collectively an equivalent sum to assemble two extra lithium crops in Pastos Grandes.
The Nice Decoupling
When COVID-19 unfold all through the world, it uncovered simply how susceptible Western international locations’ provide chains have been to China. Since then, U.S. policymakers, together with counterparts in associate international locations, have been attempting to “decouple” or “de-risk” key provide chains from China. Now, for a number of non-public corporations, collaborating with Chinese language counterparts in industries very important to nationwide safety has develop into akin to enjoying with fireplace.
Canada is a working example. On July 31, 2023, Lithium Americas determined to separate its North American and Argentine operations, almost certainly to defend the North American division from working with Ganfeng within the Cauchari-Olaroz mission. A 12 months prior, the Canadian authorities directed three Chinese language entities to divest from Canadian junior mining corporations, which included a Canadian-run lithium mining mission in Chile. It’s a part of the Funding Canada Act, which is able to evaluate overseas investments in delicate industries, much like the Committee on International Funding in the US.
In the meantime, Australia is searching for to interrupt its dependence on China by boosting its personal home capability to refine lithium spodumene into lithium phosphate salt to promote on to the US and different prospects. In February 2023, the Australian authorities blocked the Yuxiao Fund from doubling its stake in Australian mining firm Northern Minerals on grounds of nationwide safety.
Conspicuous Absences
On this grand tapestry of lithium intrigue, one can’t assist however marvel: The place are the European Union, Japan, and South Korea? Whereas the Andean plateaus of South America are teeming with gamers from China, the US, Canada, and Australia, these different U.S. allies appear to be lacking in motion.
At present the one European carmaker linked with the South American lithium trade is BMW, which sealed a take care of Livent in March 2021. However on the sidelines of a July 2023 summit with Latin American and Caribbean leaders in Brussels, EU president Ursula von der Leyen introduced the EU and Chile are engaged on a lithium MOU.
Asia, alternatively, is an enigma. Japan, with its automotive prowess and deep-seated ties with international locations like Brazil and Peru, stays conspicuously absent. A decade in the past, Toyota Tsusho entered right into a lithium sourcing settlement with two Argentine corporations for the Salar de Olaroz in Jujuy province, however at present, there’s nothing to point out for it. In 2021, Japan created the Battery Affiliation for Provide Chain, however there aren’t any indicators that BASC has any plans to have interaction South America.
South Korea has made a bigger funding within the area. In 2018, Korean firm POSCO acquired a big place inside the Hombre Muerto salt lake, and introduced a $4 billion funding in a lithium mining mission there in 2022.
This absence within the lithium race isn’t just a enterprise oversight; it’s a strategic blunder. These international locations’ auto industries contributed considerably to their financial growth, innovation, and competitiveness. Their lack of significant funding in South American lithium is a strategic drawback which will permit their Chinese language opponents to leapfrog them within the EV transition.
China, which merely a long time in the past was a novice within the car area, now stands shoulder to shoulder with the giants. Their ace? Management over 90 p.c of the lithium refining capability, a strategic benefit that would go away Japan, South Korea, and European opponents chasing shadows.
South American Lithium’s Future
As we stand at this crossroads of financial ambition and geopolitical maneuvering, what’s going to the approaching a long time maintain for South America’s lithium panorama? The indicators are already upon us.
There may be already a significant push by native governments to have corporations maintain the refining, processing, and battery manufacturing inside their international locations. In its latest nationwide lithium technique, Chile acknowledged it needs to domestically refine and course of lithium to supply jobs and worth to the Chilean individuals. As Chinese language carmakers construct battery factories in South America, it appears that evidently Chinese language corporations are responding to native authorities necessities.
The auto titans of the world are unlikely to stay mere spectators. Direct sourcing and funding offers with mining corporations are on the horizon. GM and Ford have already made their strikes, and it received’t be lengthy earlier than European and Asian juggernauts like BMW, Toyota, and Hyundai observe swimsuit. Even the tech giants – Sony, LG, Samsung – could quickly be part of this lithium frenzy.
But, the lithium stage is huge, and different actors could quickly emerge. In the US, geologists not too long ago found lithium deposits alongside the Nevada-Oregon border – doubtlessly among the many world’s largest. The Salton Lake in southern California, dubbed the “Lithium Valley,” in addition to Nevada’s Thacker Go, beckon with promise. In India’s Himalayan foothills, an unlimited reserve of spodumene lithium has been found, although the shadow of Kashmir’s battle looms massive and should make entry to this treasure as elusive because the peace that will unlock it. Nations like Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, too, are scouring their terrains, hoping to unearth lithium treasures.
These nations blessed with lithium’s bounty may quickly discover themselves wielding geopolitical clout. In the event that they navigate this period of strategic competitors with sagacity, balancing fiscal prudence with environmental stewardship, they won’t solely draw features from the US and China but additionally elevate the lives of their citizenry.
Conclusion: The Finish of the China-West Lithium Tango?
Within the theater of world commerce and politics, the notion of “decoupling” typically appears like a requiem for collaboration. But, the world of enterprise is aware of no borders. The Chinese language-Western symphony within the lithium realm was not a mere accident; it was a confluence of financial knowledge and shared experience. Some Chinese language entities, having honed their abilities over time, possess superior technological prowess. For instance, Ford is working with CATL to construct an EV plant in Michigan, though that plan is going through congressional pushback. By erecting partitions and asking Western companies to rediscover the wheel, we danger not simply stalling innovation but additionally derailing the worldwide inexperienced transition.
If the mantra is to be certainly one of unrelenting rivalry, then the West should set its sights on South America’s lithium bounty and goal to outcompete China.
First, the US, allies, and companions have to formally embrace Argentina and Chile within the State Division’s Mineral Safety Partnership, a bunch that ensures crucial minerals are produced, processed, and recycled with the best high quality requirements. Doing so will ship a powerful message of South America’s significance within the lithium international provide chain.
Second, U.S. policymakers want to supply incentives for U.S. corporations to be extra energetic in Argentina and Chile. The U.S. ought to embrace Argentina as one of many international locations that qualifies for particular advantages beneath the Inflation Discount Act. Proper now the IRA supplies EV tax credit solely to vehicles whose batteries and minerals have been produced inside the U.S. or a rustic with which the U.S. has a free commerce settlement. Chile at the moment counts as a result of it’s an FTA associate; Argentina, regardless of its massive lithium reserves, is excluded as a result of it doesn’t have an FTA with the US.
The U.S. also needs to contemplate increasing the Protection Manufacturing Act – which permits the president to direct non-public corporations to prioritize orders from the federal authorities – to incorporate lithium in Argentina and Chile. In Could 2023, the Pentagon requested Congress to develop the DPA to incorporate the UK and Australia; it may do the identical for these two South American international locations.
Third, U.S. corporations also needs to contemplate growing deeper relationships not solely with the Argentine central authorities, but additionally the provincial governments of Jujuy, Salta, and Catamarca. In Argentina’s federated system, the provinces have full jurisdiction over their lithium sources. Chinese language corporations have lengthy understood this and have made a concerted effort to ingratiate themselves with provincial leaders. U.S. and Western corporations ought to do the identical, whereas refraining from partaking in corruption. The prospect of working with Bolivia is kind of low as a result of Arce administration’s elevated relations with China and Russia. Nevertheless, the US ought to search for home windows of alternative to have interaction the Bolivian authorities sooner or later.
Fourth, the U.S., allies and companions shouldn’t put self-imposed limits on lithium exploration and manufacturing. Washington’s gaze, each geographically and when it comes to funding levels, is woefully slim. All the U.S. authorities’s investments are centered domestically, which is smart politically, however doesn’t take into consideration the worldwide nature of the lithium provide chain.
The U.S. technique can be restricted by its life cycle. At present, U.S. government-supported abroad financing can’t go into early stage mineral exploration. Nevertheless, corporations are nonetheless attempting to discover varied areas all over the world for potential lithium deposits. And it’s restricted by the financing construction, focusing solely on loans, or non-public fairness. As an alternative, U.S. entities ought to depend on blended financing via stakes, loans, and mergers and acquisitions, identical to their Chinese language counterparts.
Lastly, U.S. companies and firms ought to pool sources with their allies and companions to put money into lithium mining initiatives. On the August 18, 2023 Japan-South Korea-U.S. summit at Camp David, the U.S. Growth Finance Company, Japan Financial institution of Worldwide Cooperation, and South Korea’s Export-Import Financial institution agreed to cooperate on financing infrastructure, info know-how, provide chain resilience, and local weather initiatives within the Indo-Pacific and past. One in every of their first initiatives exterior the Indo-Pacific ought to be investing in a South American lithium mining mission. Such investments shouldn’t solely embrace the mines themselves however the infrastructure round them too – together with roads, procurement companies, and know-how suppliers.
The highway to lithium dominance is strewn with challenges – distant locales, daunting altitudes, and treacherous terrains. But it surely’s this very adversity that provides the West, alongside its allies and companions, a golden alternative to take a position, innovate, and illuminate the lives of hundreds of thousands.
In the long run, the South American lithium saga isn’t just about powering smooth Teslas. It’s a few imaginative and prescient, a promise – of prosperity, progress, and a brighter tomorrow for the individuals of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.
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