#Lithium Metal Market

[joyfulloverflower]

Lithium Metal Market worth $6.4 billion by 2028

The lithium metal market is projected to grow from USD 2.5 billion in 2023 to USD 6.4 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 20.4% from 2023 to 2028. The market's growth is driven by the rising demand for lithium metal in various applications such as anode material, intermediate in the pharmaceutical industry, and metal processing.

[wizard-mp4]

Not to mention that when you buy into apples ecosystem, you're locking yourself into it. That's not to say that Microsoft Windows is truly any better than Apple OS, and in many cases, it's not. But lock yourself into Apple, and you'll be overpaying for sometimes lesser hardware and always at an inflated price. And when you already have 1 apple product it's so easy to just keep buying into their ecosystem.

we need to be teaching kids that macbooks are shit and dont do anything or else tiktok freelancers will make them think macbooks are good

[wealthwise93]

Lithium and Copper: The Metals That Will Shape the Future

🔋🌍 Lithium and copper are set to revolutionize the economy as the demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy soars! 🌱✨ With innovations in battery tech and sustainable materials, the future looks bright for clean energy.

In the coming years, certain metals are poised to fundamentally change the global economy—foremost among them are lithium and copper. These two raw materials are becoming increasingly indispensable for the energy and transportation industries as the world shifts towards renewable energy and electric vehicles. Lithium: The Fuel of the Energy Transition Lithium plays a central role in the…

[mohitbisresearch]

Lithium-Ion Battery Metals Market to grow at a significant CAGR 34.0%. Lithium-Ion Battery Metals Report by BIS Research provides deep market insight, industry analysis, trends & Strategies and Implementation that will help your business to grow.

[redpenship]

/r/EggmanEmpire

Good ways to support the empire from home?

Hi everyone, I'm a big supporter of the Eggman Empire as I believe it is our only true path towards proper industrialization. Local leadership has shown no interest in developing our economy (we don't even have currency?), and I just don't see a path to modernization that doesn't involve a complete empire takeover of the islands.

Obviously, I cannot express these views in real life. My friends and family would kill me. Our village sits next to an abandoned empire lithium mine, and they already yelled at me once for suggesting we should start mining it to sell on the global market. It's sad that Sonic's popularity has bolstered reactionary agrarianist sentiment to such an extreme.

I've been looking for ways to subvert their attitudes and help the empire without putting my reputation on the line, but it's hard to support the empire covertly. Lately, I've taken to throwing car batteries into the ocean, but I can't access them often enough to feel that I'm making a real difference. It's honestly pretty discouraging.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Comments:

egghead927373: I'm actually trying to home brew a new Metal Virus in my basement lab. If you know anything about the subject matter, please feel free to reach out--I would love to have Mobian supporters on the project. I had to cut contact with the humans because they were being weird about it. I don't understand why human empire supporters always have to be so dismissive or straight up disrespectful to fellow supporters on the islands.

Replies:

TheDoctorHimself (mod): You're home brewing WHAT

[mindblowingscience]

The “white gold” of clean energy, lithium is a key ingredient in batteries large and small, from those powering phones and laptops to grid-scale energy storage systems. Though relatively abundant, the silvery-white metal could soon be in short supply due to a complex sourcing landscape affected by the electric vehicle (EV) boom, net-zero goals, and geopolitical factors. Valued at over $65 billion in 2023, the lithium-ion battery (LIB) global market is expected to grow by over 23% in the next eight years, likely heightening existing challenges in lithium supply.

Continue Reading.

[wumblr]

there's this cruel irony of imperialism -- obviously many of them -- and there's a good chance somebody is going to call me either shortsighted, highfalutin, ungrounded, or reaching for saying this, but i've been thinking about the networked effects of extracted resources. first it was spice colonialism, then the spices all turned out to be too aphrodisiac and this eventually led to the industrialization of cornflakes

they used to construct elaborate fictions for conflict minerals, this item is unbelievably valuable and the only appropriate use for it is to commemorate a lifelong, monogamous and reproductive relationship (diamonds). now the conflict mineral (lithium) is an unnecessary substitute for an herb (tobacco) and it has become disposable

the nature and progression of imperialism requires continual growth and this means the conflict minerals can't maintain their value, they turn from precious heirloom jewelry to litter, simply because litter is less rare and so more profitable. first they had to mine the raw metals to build out an electrical grid, and then the materials to build roads and cars, and now that the grid requires baseload batteries parked in your garage we're throwing lithium on the ground. plastics have an irrevocable hold on the market simply because they're petroleum byproducts

cities could never have become as large as they did without the development of firefighting and now the baseload batteries are inextinguishable. progress of ever-smaller fragmentation for profit leads to contradiction. the city cannot move forward without the conflict mineral battery, but it can't put the fire out and it can't stop throwing them away, ostensibly to suppress use of an herb, once medicinal, now an adulterated vice. because adulterating it not only increases the rate of cancer but attributes it to personal choice, which is necessary, because otherwise it would be more attributable to the materials that keep the system running (uranium). it's incredible

the state with the lowest rate of cancer is downwind of the test site, because it's populated by yet another extremist christian wing of imperial progress, so extreme that they don't smoke or drink, because these personal choices have an outsized influence in comparison to the global contamination that the development of the bomb caused. a bit of the money made from the extraction of resources is put towards repayment for citizens of the imperial core, for exposure to the product that created their way of life, but the program expires and nobody cares because they seem to think it didn't affect them

anyway somebody threw a whole clock radio in my garden. i took the battery and now i can't do anything with it unless i want to figure out where to take it to be recycled. holding this blue plastic-wrapped cylinder of fire risk conflict mineral in my little hand and ruminating on it. do you think it traveled further than i have to get to me? i should never have left it sitting next to my keys i've been glancing at it in passing every day for weeks. of course you're not supposed to throw them on the ground, but i've already criticized the abdication of responsibility by corporations for the waste their products become. makes it into another issue of personal choice when they wouldn't have existed if they hadn't been industrialized

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Energy storage is an essential part of many rapidly growing sustainable technologies, including electric cars and renewable energy generation. Although lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) dominate the current market, lithium is a relatively scarce and expensive element, creating both economic and supply stability challenges. Accordingly, researchers all over the world are experimenting with new types of batteries made from more abundant materials. Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries which use sodium ions as energy carriers present a promising alternative to LIBs owing to the abundance of sodium, their higher safety, and potentially lower cost. In particular, sodium-containing transition-metal layered oxides (NaMeO2) are powerful materials for the positive electrode of Na-ion batteries, offering exceptional energy density and capacity. However, for multi-element layered oxides composed of several transition metals, the sheer number of possible combinations makes finding the optimal composition both complex and time-consuming. Even minor changes in the selection and proportion of transition metals can bring about marked changes in crystal morphology and affect battery performance.

Read more.

[zvaigzdelasas]

China is upping the critical minerals stakes by curbing exports of graphite, a key raw material in electric vehicle batteries.

The West can’t say it wasn’t warned.

When China announced restrictions on exports of gallium and germanium in July, former Vice Commerce Minister Wei Jianguo was quoted in the China Daily as saying it was “just the start” if the West continued to target China’s high-technology sector.

Restricting the flow of two metals used in the manufacture of silicon chips was “a well-thought-out heavy punch” in reaction to the U.S. Chips Act, Wei said.

The Biden administration has since tightened restrictions on the flow of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China, announcing on Friday a new raft of measures aimed at closing previous loopholes.

China is responding in kind, this time taking aim at the West’s electric vehicle (EV) ambitions.

There is much potential for further escalation in this unfolding critical minerals battle between China and the West.[...]

Graphite has slipped under the radar in the broader critical raw materials debate. China’s control of other battery inputs such as cobalt, nickel and lithium has grabbed the headlines.

Those are all used to make the battery cathode. It won’t work, however, without an anode, which is invariably made of graphite.

Indeed, graphite is the largest EV battery component by weight, typically accounting for between 50 and 100 kg.

China is the dominant player in the global supply of both natural graphite and synthetic graphite, which has been taking an increasing share of the market.

The country accounts for around two-thirds [!!] of all natural graphite production and, according to consultancy Benchmark Minerals, supplies around 98% [!!!!!] of the world’s synthetic graphite anodes.

23 Oct 23

[reasoningdaily]

Children still mining cobalt for gadget batteries in Congo

A CBS News investigation of child labor in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo has revealed that tens of thousands of children are growing up without a childhood today – two years after a damning Amnesty report about human rights abuses in the cobalt trade was published. The Amnesty report first revealed that cobalt mined by children was ending up in products from prominent tech companies including Apple, Microsoft, Tesla and Samsung. 

There's such sensitivity around cobalt mining in the DRC that a CBS News team traveling there recently was stopped every few hundred feet while moving along dirt roads and seeing children digging for cobalt. From as young as 4 years old, children can pick cobalt out of a pile, and even those too young to work spend much of the day breathing in toxic fumes.

What's life like for kids mining cobalt for our gadgets?

So, what exactly is cobalt, and what are the health risks for those who work in the DRC's cobalt mining industry?

What is cobalt?

Cobalt – a naturally occurring element –  is a critical component in lithium-ion, rechargeable batteries. In recent years, the growing global market for portable electronic devices and rechargeable batteries has fueled demand for its extraction, Amnesty said in its 2016 report. In fact, many top electronic and electric vehicle companies need cobalt to help power their products.

The element is found in other products as well.

"Cobalt-containing products include corrosion and heat-resistant alloys, hard metal (cobalt-tungsten-carbide alloy), magnets, grinding and cutting tools, pigments, paints, colored glass, surgical implants, catalysts, batteries, and cobalt-coated metal (from electroplating)," says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than half of the world's supply of cobalt comes from the DRC, and 20 percent of that is mined by hand, according to Darton Commodities Ltd., a London-based research company that specializes in cobalt.  

Health risks of chronic exposure 

According to the CDC, "chronic exposure to cobalt-containing hard metal (dust or fume) can result in a serious lung disease called 'hard metal lung disease'" – a kind of pneumoconiosis, meaning a lung disease caused by inhaling dust particles. Inhalation of cobalt particles can cause respiratory sensitization, asthma, decreased pulmonary function and shortness of breath, the CDC says.

The health agency says skin contact is also a significant health concern "because dermal exposures to hard metal and cobalt salts can result in significant systemic uptake." 

"Sustained exposures can cause skin sensitization, which may result in eruptions of contact dermatitis," a red, itchy skin rash, the CDC says.

Despite the health risks, researchers with Amnesty International found that most cobalt miners in Congo lack basic protective equipment like face masks, work clothing and gloves. Many of the miners the organization spoke with for its 2016 report – 90 people in total who work, or worked, in the mines – complained of frequent coughing or lung problems. Cobalt mining's dangerous impact on workers and the environment

Some women complained about the physical nature of the work, with one describing hauling 110-pound sacks of cobalt ore. "We all have problems with our lungs, and pain all over our bodies," the woman said, according to Amnesty.

Moreover, miners said unsupported mining tunnels frequently give way, and that accidents are common.  

Miners know their work is dangerous, Todd C. Frankel wrote late last month in The Washington Post. 

"But what's less understood are the environmental health risks posed by the extensive mining," he reported. "Southern Congo holds not only vast deposits of cobalt and copper but also uranium. Scientists have recorded alarming radioactivity levels in some mining regions. Mining waste often pollutes rivers and drinking water. The dust from the pulverized rock is known to cause breathing problems. The mining industry's toxic fallout is only now being studied by researchers, mostly in Lubumbashi, the country's mining capital."

"These job are really desired"

Despite the dangers and risks of working as miners in the cobalt industry, at least of the some miners in the Congo "love their jobs," according to Frankel.

"When I talked to the miners there, none of them want to lose their jobs or give up their jobs. They love their jobs," Frankel said Tuesday, speaking on CBSN. "In a country like Congo, mining is one of the few decently paying jobs to be had there, and so they want to hold onto these jobs."

They also want fair treatment, decent pay, and some safety, "and they would love for their kids to not work in the mines," he said.

"It's a poverty problem," Frankel said. "These parents I talked to – they don't want their kids working in these mines. The problem is that their school fees – schools cost money, and you know, food costs money, and they sort of need their kids to work in there."

Poverty also drives children into the mines instead of school – an estimated 40,000 of them work in brutal conditions starting at very young ages.

The thousands of miners who work in tunnels searching for cobalt in the country "do it because they live in one of the poorest countries in the world, and cobalt is valuable," Frankel wrote in the Washington Post article.

"Not doing enough" 

CBS News spoke with some of the companies that use cobalt in their lithium-ion batteries. All of the companies acknowledged problems with the supply chain, but said they require suppliers to follow responsible sourcing guidelines. Apple, an industry leader in the fight for responsible sourcing, said walking away from the DRC "would do nothing to improve conditions for the people or the environment."

Read company responses here

Amnesty said in November, however, that "major electronics and electric vehicle companies are still not doing enough to stop human rights abuses entering their cobalt supply chains." 

"As demand for rechargeable batteries grows, companies have a responsibility to prove that they are not profiting from the misery of miners working in terrible conditions in the DRC," the organization said. "The energy solutions of the future must not be built on human rights abuses."

An estimated two-thirds of children in the region of the DRC that CBS News visited recently are not in school. They're working in mines instead. 

CBS News' Debora Patta spoke with an 11-year-old boy, Ziki Swaze, who has no idea how to read or write but is an expert in washing cobalt. Every evening, he returns home with a dollar or two to provide for his family.

"I have to go and work there," he told Patta, "because my grandma has a bad leg and she can't."

He said he dreams of going to school, but has always had to work instead.

"I feel very bad because I can see my friends going to school, and I am struggling," he said.

Amnesty says "it is widely recognized internationally that the involvement of children in mining constitutes one of the worst forms of child labour, which governments are required to prohibit and eliminate."

[cetaceanhandiwork]

hard to understate how hyped I am for sodium ion batteries finally coming to market

a 50% drop in energy density compared to lithium is nothing. it's trivia. at worst it means they're as dense as lithium batteries were in 2010 when everyone was already starting to carry a pocket cellphone. in exchange for that you switch from metals that have to be mined out of the ground to a metal that makes up 1.5% of the ocean? easy choose

[bloghrexach]

🇨🇩 … there is so much to learn!! So much is happening in this world!!

By: LaillaB, founder of ‘Reclaim the Narrative’, from LinkedIn …

“Western imperialism continues to leave a dark and enduring legacy across the globe, from The Congo to Palestine.

The devastating effects of exploitative inequality persist in these regions, corrupting communities and wreaking havoc on generations of natives.

Through the theft of land, exploitation of resources, and imposition of foreign rule, Western powers have left a trail of devastation in their wake.

The state of Israel was created on land that was illigitamelty taken from the Palestinian people, leading to decades of human rights violations and displacement against the natives.

The ongoing colonisation of Palestine continues to fuel violence and instability in the region, with devastating consequences for the Palestinian people … Genocide.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has long been a victim of Western exploitation, with its vast mineral wealth being plundered by foreign powers for centuries.

During “The Butcher of Congo”, Belgium’s King Leopold II's brutal colonisation of the Congo Free State, estimates suggest that up to 10 million Congolese lost their lives and their rights are still being sacrificed as the wealth around them is stripped away.

Growing demand for so-called clean energy technologies has created a corresponding demand for certain metals, including copper, and cobalt, which is essential for making most lithium-ion batteries. The DRC has the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, and the seventh largest reserves of copper.

… Israel’s the worlds leader in exporting diamonds.

The intrusion by israel in 1997 marked a turning point as the DRC spiralled into chaos, highlighting the perilous consequences of external economic interests in politically fragile regions.

“Israel turns over about $28 billion in diamonds a year,” the Jerusalem Post pointed out, solidifying the industry's position as a cornerstone of the nation's economic power.

Israeli companies import rough diamonds for cutting and polishing, adding significantly to their value, and export them globally via distribution hubs in Antwerp, London, Hong Kong, New York and Mumbai.

Despite the introduction of the Kimberley Process in 2003 to regulate the trade of conflict diamonds, the narrow definition excludes cut and polished diamonds, allowing the flow of revenue to fund contentious activities.

This loophole enables the trade of de facto blood diamonds from Israel to persist in the global market, perpetuating a cycle of deceit and destruction.

Candy Ofime and Jean-Mobert Senga, Amnesty International researchers said: “We found repeated breaches of legal safeguards prescribed in international human rights law and standards, and national legislation, as well as blatant disregard for the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.”

From The Congo 🇨🇩 to Palestine 🇵🇸 …

“The greatest menace to the world today is the growing, exploiting, irresponsible imperialism”

Mahatma Gandhi.

#reclaimthenarrative — 🍉🕊 — #FreePalestine … #FreeCongo … @hrexach

[anarchocuntboogaloo]

Had a bit of a schizo shitpost thought in the shower...

So there's people that say the aliens gave us our modern technology. That'd definitely include our lithium/ nickle/ cobalt guzzling electric cars, yes?

And some people are surprised by the amount of mining/metals it takes for our electric car market.

So, what if, this sudden push of electric cars, mandates, etc. was to cover up that we've been mining for/ depleting/ ruining our planet for the aliens? They want it to look like this sudden rush of electric cars being used is the cause. 👀

[hamletsay]

Unveiling the Dark Side of Tech: African Slave Labor in Cobalt Mining

The age of technology has brought unparalleled conveniences and innovations into our lives, powering everything from smartphones to electric cars. However, behind the sleek designs and powerful batteries lies a disturbing reality – the exploitation of African slave labor in the mining of cobalt, a critical component in lithium-ion batteries. This article sheds light on the harrowing conditions in cobalt mines and the complex web of responsibility that implicates large companies profiting from this exploitation.

The Cobalt Rush and Its Human Cost

Cobalt, a rare metal, has become increasingly vital in the manufacture of high-capacity batteries. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds over 60% of the world’s cobalt reserves and is the epicenter of global cobalt mining. In the rush to meet the burgeoning demand, the DRC has witnessed an alarming rise in unregulated mining activities, often characterized by severe human rights abuses.

Slave Labor in Mines

Reports from various human rights organizations reveal a grim picture of the conditions in these mines. Workers, including children as young as seven, are subjected to hazardous environments, working without basic protective gear in tunnels prone to collapse. They endure long hours for meager pay, and often face health issues due to exposure to toxic substances without any medical support. This exploitation is, in the strictest sense, a form of modern-day slavery.

The Supply Chain Complicity

The journey of cobalt from these mines to the smartphones and electric cars in global markets implicates a complex supply chain. Large multinational corporations, while not directly employing slave labor, benefit indirectly from these inhumane practices. The cobalt mined under such conditions eventually makes its way to battery manufacturers and then to tech and automotive giants.

Corporate Responsibility and Denial

Many of these corporations have either denied knowledge of the exploitation or claimed reliance on supplier assurances of ethical practices. However, the opacity and complexity of supply chains make it challenging to trace the exact origins of cobalt, often allowing companies to evade direct responsibility.

Steps Towards Accountability

International pressure and consumer awareness have spurred