Lithium is a vital ingredient for the batteries that run electric vehicles and store renewable energy. As the world shifts away from fossil fuels, the demand for lithium is soaring. But extracting and processing the metal comes at a high environmental and social cost, especially in South America’s Lithium Triangle, where most of the world’s lithium reserves are found. How can the green revolution be powered without ruining the planet?
Lithium can be mined from brine deposits in salt flats or from hard rock minerals. The former method is more common in the Lithium Triangle, where brine is pumped from underground reservoirs to shallow ponds, where solar evaporation concentrates the lithium over several months. Then, the concentrated brine is treated with chemicals to precipitate lithium carbonate, which is further purified and refined. This method is relatively simple and low-cost, but it also consumes vast amounts of water and land, and pollutes local water sources with chemicals and heavy metals. Moreover, it emits volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution and climate change.
The environmental impact of lithium mining is starkly visible in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. The desert hosts the world’s largest lithium reserves in its salt flats, which are also home to diverse ecosystems and endemic species, such as flamingos, vicuñas and cacti.
Lithium mining also has negative social impacts, such as human rights violations, land conflicts, community displacement, health risks, cultural erosion, economic inequality and political instability. In Argentina’s Salinas Grandes or Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, lithium extraction has faced resistance from local communities and indigenous groups, who claim their rights to land, water and participation have been violated. Moreover, lithium mining can create social tensions among different stakeholders, such as governments, mining companies and civil society organizations.
These challenges need to be addressed to ensure a sustainable and responsible lithium supply chain. Some possible solutions include implementing best practices, standards and regulations, enhancing stakeholder engagement and participation, promoting transparency and accountability, supporting research and innovation, fostering regional cooperation and integration.
For example, one of the best practices for reducing the environmental impact of lithium extraction from brine deposits is using direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology. DLE technology involves using selective membranes or sorbents to extract lithium directly from the brine, without the need for evaporation ponds. DLE technology can reduce water consumption, land use, chemical use and GHG emissions, as well as increase lithium recovery and purity. However, DLE technology is still in its early stages of development and deployment, and requires more research and investment to overcome technical and economic challenges.
Another possible solution is enhancing stakeholder engagement and participation in the decision-making and management of lithium projects. This involves respecting the rights and interests of local communities and indigenous groups, as well as involving them in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of lithium projects. Stakeholder engagement and participation can improve the social acceptability and legitimacy of lithium mining, as well as prevent or resolve potential conflicts and grievances. Moreover, stakeholder engagement and participation can foster mutual learning and collaboration among different actors, such as governments, mining companies, civil society organizations and academic institutions.
There is much more to be understood and I have provided only a brief overview of the environmental and social challenges of lithium mining and processing, as well as some possible solutions to address them. I welcome your thoughts and opinions on this topic in the comments section below.