Lithium
Projects
Major Lithium Projects Worldwide
The development pipeline for Lithium projects spans exploration through production across multiple jurisdictions. We track 6 key projects that will shape the future supply landscape for this battery metal.
Current Production
180,000
tonnes LCE
Top Producer
Australia
47% share
Projects Tracked
6
Reserves
28 million tonnes (Li content)
Lithium Project Pipeline
The following projects represent the most significant Lithium operations and development-stage assets worldwide:
Greenbushes Mine
Talison Lithium (Tianqi/Albemarle)
Worlds largest hard rock lithium mine with the highest-grade spodumene deposit globally; expansion to 2.3M tonnes underway
Salar de Atacama
SQM and Albemarle
Worlds highest-grade lithium brine deposit; Chilean government transitioning to new public-private operating model
Thacker Pass
Lithium Americas
Largest known lithium deposit in North America; sedimentary clay deposit in Nevada; received $2.26B DOE loan
Jadar Project
Rio Tinto
Unique jadarite mineral deposit; permit revoked in 2022 due to environmental protests, then reinstated by Serbian court in 2024
James Bay
Allkem/Arcadium (Rio Tinto)
Major Canadian spodumene project in Quebec; acquired by Rio Tinto through Arcadium deal
Cauchari-Olaroz
Allkem/Arcadium + Ganfeng
Large brine operation in Argentinas lithium triangle; achieved first production in 2023
Government Support and Strategic Initiatives
Recognizing the strategic importance of Lithium, governments in major consuming nations have launched programs to support project development. These include direct financing, loan guarantees, streamlined permitting, and bilateral resource partnerships. As a USGS-listed critical mineral, Lithium projects are eligible for various U.S. government support mechanisms including the Defense Production Act Title III program. EU Critical Raw Materials Act provisions enable fast-track permitting and financing support for Lithium projects within the EU and partner nations.
Key Industry Developments
Recent developments affecting the Lithium project landscape:
First lithium price boom driven by EV hype; spodumene concentrate rose from $400 to $900/tonne
Lithium price crash to ~$4,000/tonne LCE as oversupply met slower-than-expected EV adoption; multiple mines suspended or delayed
Lithium prices surged to all-time record of $80,000+/tonne LCE (China spot) as EV demand exploded while supply lagged
Prices crashed ~80% from peak as Chinese EV demand growth slowed and new supply came online; spodumene fell from $8,000 to $1,000/tonne
Rio Tinto acquired Arcadium Lithium for $6.7B, joining the mega-miners investing in lithium; prices stabilized at $10,000-15,000/tonne LCE
Chile announced new state-controlled lithium model requiring government majority stake in new brine operations
More on Lithium
Explore other aspects of the Lithium value chain.
Uses & Applications
Explore uses & applications for Lithium.
Supply Chain
Explore supply chain for Lithium.
Mining & Processing
Explore mining & processing for Lithium.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore refining & grade specs for Lithium.
Recycling
Explore recycling for Lithium.
Substitutes
Explore substitutes for Lithium.
Return to the Lithium hub page or browse the full Mineral Library.