Green metals opportunities in Afghanistan and Pakistan face serious headwinds, but the potential upside is huge.
Lithium
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.
The new lithium extraction process reportedly reduces the cost of metal per tonne by more than six times.
Scarcity of rare earths and metals are impacting the supply chains of Western EV manufacturers as Chinese domination grows.