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Lithium battery production process diagram

Mangrove CEO and Founder, Saad Dara, recently wrote an Op-Ed piece for thefutureeconomy.ca that discusses how Canada can excel in the transition to renewable energies and why sustainable lithium refining will be a paramount consideration.

The growing market for electric vehicles means less transportation emissions, but their batteries contribute their own set of GHG emissions. Saad Dara, Clean50 honouree and CEO of Mangrove Lithium, explains how sustainable lithium refining practices and technologies can be utilized to lower the footprint of EV batteries.

As demand for electric vehicles and utility-scale energy storage batteries skyrockets, the world will need to rapidly expand the lithium supply chain. Canada is positioned to excel in the production and refining of critical minerals as it holds the 6th largest lithium reserves in the world.

The new proposal takes advantage of Chile’s rich lithium reserves to help meet global lithium demand, through potential partnerships between the government and private sector, while adhering to sustainability standards.

Batteries News Op-ed: Decentralizing Lithium Refining Key to Scaling Battery Manufacturing and Recycling

Bill Derasmo and Dr. Saad Dara discuss Mangrove Lithium’s novel electrochemical refining process for producing battery-grade lithium, and how they turn overseas refining into a thing of the past.

One battery-grade lithium compound, however, stands out as a precursor material for cathodes. Lithium hydroxide will enable us to meet our clean energy mandates faster if its current supply chain challenges can be resolved and its production is prioritized.

Find out why Canada needs localized lithium refining and how it will benefit the country and its future energy plans.

The lithium battery production bottleneck will block the adoption of 350 million electric vehicles by 2040 unless supply chain constraints are removed.

The lithium battery production bottleneck will block the adoption of 350 million electric vehicles by 2040 unless supply chain constraints are removed.

We won’t wade into the merits of either argument because, either way, the underlying facts remain that the “sharp correction” Goldman predicts is a function of market volatility caused by a brittle and over-concentrated supply chain. The volatility here is because we have rising demand, but an uncertain supply. For the market to achieve a stable foundation price, high or low, it must achieve a stable and reliable supply chain.

We won’t wade into the merits of either argument because, either way, the underlying facts remain that the “sharp correction” Goldman predicts is a function of market volatility caused by a brittle and over-concentrated supply chain. The volatility here is because we have rising demand, but an uncertain supply. For the market to achieve a stable foundation price, high or low, it must achieve a stable and reliable supply chain.

Media and analysts currently predict a lithium supply chain pinch that is going to be worsened by China's and Russia's near-monopoly on refining. With emerging technology like Mangrove's, companies will not be reliant on foreign processing and will be able to supply the expected demand.