(ECNS) -- China has made significant breakthroughs in lithium exploration, with global share of lithium reserves rising from 6 to 16.5 percent, jumping from sixth place to second in the world, China Geological Survey announced Wednesday.
Lithium, a significant element in people’s daily life, is widely used in industries including new energy vehicles, energy storage systems, mobile communications, disease treatment, nuclear reactor fuel, and other emerging sectors.
A world-class spodumene-type lithium belt spanning 2,800 kilometers in western China has been discovered. The country has also made progress in the development of salt lake lithium resources. Lithium found in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau's salt lakes have also seen substantial growth, positioning China as the third-largest salt lake lithium resource base globally.
In addition, it has overcome technical challenges in extracting lithium from lepidolite, a mineral with high lithium content that is difficult and costly to process.
China's increase in lithium reserves is expected to reduce its reliance on foreign supplies and contribute to a more balanced global lithium market, experts said.
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