Lithium and Geopolitics (Thread)
This thread will answer following questions
- Why Lithium is called White Petroleum
- How Lithium will change Geopolitics
- Significance of discovery of 5.9 M Tonnes Lithium reserve in India
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August 23, 1973 Riyadh
Arab countries were angry with west due to continuous support of west to Israel.
They knew they can't defeat Israel backed by West coz they have modern war weapons but they knew that they also have one weapon n that is Oil
N they decided to use it
Just imagine world 150 year ago when there were no Car, bike, truck, bus etc.
Middle east was not developed but then petrol vehicles came. Since middle east have abundance of oil reserve so it brought money n prosperity there
Biggest losers were India n China
These countries don't have oil reserve so they're completely dependent on middle east for their petrol requirement n that caused increase in their import bills.
US businessman John Rockefeller was first one who realised importance of Oil long ago in 1869
In 1973, Arab countries used oil as a weapon to teach lesson to West n raised price of Oil by 300% that caused great world recession.
US secretary of state Henry Kissinger resolved the issue n gave huge power to Arab rules, Israel withdrew its troops from Suez
and in return Arab countries started dealings in Petro dollars.
Though middle east is largest oil producer but many of their reserves are under control of USA's Rockefeller group
But now this US middle east alliance soon might lose the power coz a new white oil has come
And that white oil is Lithium
Lithium is lightest metal of world, it's periodic table number is 3 just after Hydrogen and Helium.
Lithium is used in rechargeable batteries that r used in EV, Laptop, mobile
EV have many advantage over Petrol Vehicles. They r more energy efficient n release no toxic gases.
Due to this many countries r moving towards EV.
EV doesn't require any Petrol or Diesel. they r run by Lithium batteries n here Lithium replace Oil n Petrol
Friend n enemies r determined by cold national interest. US used regime change, wars n assassinations to control oil producing countries n through it ruled world
US controlled Iran in 1954 but lost in 1979
US controlled Saudi Arabia, Jordon, Qatar, Iraq, Libya, Kuwait, egypt
at time to time.
The fevicol between friendship and Muslim countries is Oil
Muslim countries also used their close contacts with USA to spread Islam in Europe n all over the world
But geopolitics is all about timing and future n China realised importance of Lithium in future.
As middle east is hub of oil reserve, South America is hub of lithium reserve. Specially three countries : Bolivia, Chile n Argentina
Currently Chile has highest reserve of Lithium in world. followed by Australia and Argentina.
Boliwia also have 21 M tonnes Lithium reserve.
Lithium is highly reactive so its not found independently so to get lithium from lithium reserve requires huge production facility and here China have supremacy.
Recently China signed agreement with Bolivia. Opposition parties of Bolivia saying that China gave bribes to get it
Although China is the fifth largest lithium producer country globally, Chinese companies control half of global lithium production and over 70% of Li battery production.
China's Tianqi Lithium is 2nd largest shareholder in Sociedad Química y Minera, a Chilean mining company
It also holds 51% stake in the world's biggest hard-rock lithium mine at Greenbushes in Western Australia.
Ganfeng Lithium Co. also procured a 51 per cent share of Lithium Americas Corp's project in northern Argentina in 2020.
These two companies held 30% of the global market share. Ireland, Canada and Zimbabwe host Chinese state-owned lithium mining companies.
World’s 148 out of 200 Li battery mega factories are located in China, Europe (21) North America (11)
Despite foreign dependency, China seems to dominate the market by aggressively buying lithium-related assets.
Now come to India
India was slow in EV development coz switching Petrol to EV will shift India's dependence on China but recent discovery of 5.9 M tonne will be
game changer for India.
It straight away brings India at 3rd rank in Lithium reserve. Though Its still at G3 stage that means very preliminary stage. G1 report will give more exact idea.
Salal in 35 Km from Katra vaishno devi.
Currently Indian Li battery companies r dependent on China for raw material but this new reserve have potential to change game completely n can give same advantage to India that middle east enjoyed for 100 years
Use of Li Battery is expected to increase 100 times in next 7 years
Apart from Li Battery, India is also working on development of Sodium battery though its still have very initial stage. India have abundance of Sodium.
India will face huge resistance from foreign funded NGO's to stop exploration of this reserve.
They will try their best to stop India by calling Lithium exploration as dangerous for environment n water reserves.
And that's why we need a strong, honest, nationalist PM and govt in center for atleast 10 years so that India can use this Lithium reserve to become super power in World.
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