Chinese environmental checks impact lithium production
Following on from the announcement of environmental inspections in China’s main lepidolite production hub of Jiangxi province, inspections have also been announced in one of its key brine producing areas, Qinghai, in recent days. According to Rystad Energy, domestic brine contributed 39% of China’s integrated lithium production in 2023, with lepidolite 49% and domestic spodumene a further 12%. In Qinghai, the environment ministry identified improper waste treatment, alongside insufficient grassland protections and controls on energy consumption, and flagged producers for illegal water use. In Jiangxi, the primary focus is on disposal of process tailings which often contain harmful impurities. In...
Topics
Brine
China
Cost curve
Environmental Checks
Jiangxi
Lepidolite
Lithium
Production costs
Qinghai
Tailings
Waste Management
