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Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Saturday signed a decree handing over responsibility for lithium reserves to the energy ministry, after nationalizing lithium deposits last April.
During an event in Sonora, Lopez Obrador signed the decree that orders the energy ministry “to take the actions necessary to carry out” the nationalization process.
It also declares 234,855 hectares (907 square miles) in Sonora as a mining zone known as Li-MX 1.
“(Let’s make) the nation be the owner of this strategic mineral,” Lopez Obrador said during the event.
Mexico holds important potential lithium deposits, a highly sought material for the production of electric vehicle batteries.
Studies suggest Mexico may have some 1.7 million tonnes of lithium. While close to a dozen foreign companies have active mining concessions that aim to develop potential lithium deposits, Lopez Obrador has said all of them will be “reviewed,” which has cast a cloud over the sector’s future prospects.
“What we are doing now … is to nationalize lithium so that it cannot be exploited by foreigners from Russia, China or the United States,” Lopez Obrador said at the event.
Last week, the chief executive of the state-run company for lithium production, Pablo Taddei, told Reuters that Mexico was open to partnerships but that the federal government would have a majority stake in any future joint venture.
The decree published Saturday by the economy ministry said that “the rights and obligations of the holders of mining concessions in force that are within the lithium mining reserve zone remain safe.”
It adds that “no mining activity related to lithium” can be carried out within the reserve but gave few additional details.
(By Carolina Pulice, Nelson Bocanegra and Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Alistair Bell)
3 Comments
BOB HALL
Have fun getting meaningful investment to explore and develop any deposit when you are a minority shareholder. Or you can just reach into your bulging treasury and get tons of cash to do it yourself. Short sighted move!
W
One would hope, that Mexico’s el-Presidente’ has spoken to his own counterpart, in Bolivia, about how to become a ‘successful’ Lithium producing nation..! ???
BOB HALL
Venezuela could offer some advise about running a successful extractive economy as well.