The global supply situation of lithium ore and suggestions on resources security in China

Over 70% of the world lithium reserves are distributed in the "lithium triangle", Pune plateau, South America.China's lithium reserves are 6.49 Mt, ranking the third in the world, accounting for 11.6%.It gradually forms an oligopoly of supply because of concentrated distribution, Australia, Chile and Argentina supply nearly 90% of the world's lithium.Although the supply and demand of lithum are balance at present, but will be in a tight balance in the medium and long term, because the demand increases continuously and rapidly with the development of new energy industry, on the contrary, the release of the mining capacity is limited.China is the world's largest lithium consumer, accounting for 47.3% global consumption.Although lithium resources in China are rich, but the supply capacity is weak, the production cost is high.Chinese lithium company has acquired some high-quality lithium resources abroad, but the international speaking right is still weak.The lithium external dependence is as high as 84.5% in China, resulting in some security risks.It is suggested that the government should enhance domestic lithium resources exploration investment and key lithium technology research and development, achieve cross-regional joint development of the lithium industry chain construction; the companies need to establish resources base in the ore-centralization overseas area.