Mexico moves ahead with lithium nationalization plans
Ruling Morena party has introduced a draft bill calling for the battery metal to be deemed the exclusive property of the nation, with production controlled by the state.
A global energy transition is underway, with lithium-ion as one of the leading energy storage technologies for both handheld technology and electric cars.
Albemarle said it could invest $1-billion in Chile over the next 5 years if request to the government to let it extract 125,000 tonnes per year is approved.
Arnoud Balhuizen, head of marketing at BHP, said the impact of the looming electric vehicle boom for raw materials producers would be felt first in the metals markets and only later in oil.