In the pursuit of deeper participation in Kazakhstan’s extractive industries, South Korea faces country-level and broader geopolitical risks.
Lithium
Economies of scale, new supplies of lithium, and alternative technologies make it possible to sell electric vehicle batteries more cheaply.
Lithium-abundant Ukraine may be key to South Korea’s ambitions to become a global battery production powerhouse.
Great power competition in the Sahel is driven by natural resources, strategic location, economic interests, and defense cooperation.
Green metals opportunities in Afghanistan and Pakistan face serious headwinds, but the potential upside is huge.
Chile, home to the world’s largest lithium reserves, is showing how Latin America can embrace renewable energy without dependence on China.
A little-known Chinese company reportedly said it would develop a lithium mine in Afghanistan for $10 billion. But the project has low odds of success.
Australia is entangled in the superpower competition between China and the United States over the control of lithium.
The auto industry is at an inflection point as electric vehicle sales double year-on-year. But lithium shortages could slow EV adoption.
New Delhi plans to build four 10GWh/year power plants at a total cost of $4 billion.