Forwarded from Blood Meridian
π π¨LatAm in the world's race for lithium: Part 1. Resources
Chile, Argentina and Bolivia alone hold 2/3 of the world's lithium reserves. Will such an advantage help these three countries succeed in a world where demand for lithium is soaring?
π»The 'Lithium Triangle'
The so-called 'lithium triangle' is an arid region with expansive salt flats, shared between Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. According to estimates, this region holds 54% of the worldβs lithium resources. The lithium deposits are found underneath the salt flats (contrary to Australia, which mines directly from hard rock deposits).
Bolivia is home to 21 million tons of lithium, followed by Argentina with 19.3 million and Chile with 9.6 million. These numbers are still subject to change, as active exploration leads to an increase in known resources. Identified global lithium resources rose from 53 million tons in 2018 to 89 million tons in 2022, according to the USGS.
π»Three countries - three approaches
π¨π± Chile has transformed the majority of its available resources into economically viable reserves available for commercial production. Having the lowest deposits (out of the three countries), it managed to become the worldβs second-largest commercial producer after Australia. The Atacama salt flat has the highest-quality, proven reserves with a low cost of production.
Things might soon change, though, as the Chilean government announced in April it will nationalize the country's lithium, requiring the state to control 51% of future ventures. Foreign lithium miners, such as Chinese SQM now must renegotiate its contract under the new rules. The Chilean Copper Commission already warns Argentina might overtake Chile as the 2nd world lithium producer by 2035, as Chile's market share is expected to decline.
π§π΄ Bolivia has struggled to transform its lithium resources into commercially viable reserves, due in large part to the poor investment climate and the countryβs political instability. The country nationalized its lithium reserves back in 2008 and missed out on foreign investment opportunities in the following decade. Having recently signed deals with China and Russia, Bolivia hopes to quickly reach high production levels in the coming years.
π¦π· Argentina has created a more favorable investment climate, as it asks for only 3% royalty (lower than Chile, which imposes a progressive royalty that can reach up to 40%). Since 2020, over $4 billion in investments have been announced, with dozens of private sector projects now in the pipeline. Most of these investments come from Chinese companies.
The three countries are in talks about a possible regional alliance on lithium - "a kind of lithium OPEC," as Bolivian President Luis Arce puts it.
π»North America
πΊπΈ North America is also rich in lithium. The U.S. ranks 4th in total resources (9,1 million tons), but the only active lithium mine is in the state of Nevada, producing just 1% of global lithium.
π²π½ Mexico, which also holds some lithium reserves, nationalized its lithium last year and has since announced that only joint ventures with majority state control could exploit the mineral. Those companies that started lithium exploration before the nationalization process began will be able to continue mining under the previous terms.
Despite holding the largest lithium reserves, Latin American countries are lagging behind when it comes to lithium production and processing. So, which countries are actually taking advantage of the growing lithium market?
π»π»π»
Part 2
#analysis #LatAm #lithium #resources #Chile #Argentina #Bolivia #US #Mexico
β οΈ Blood Meridian
Chile, Argentina and Bolivia alone hold 2/3 of the world's lithium reserves. Will such an advantage help these three countries succeed in a world where demand for lithium is soaring?
π»The 'Lithium Triangle'
The so-called 'lithium triangle' is an arid region with expansive salt flats, shared between Chile, Argentina and Bolivia. According to estimates, this region holds 54% of the worldβs lithium resources. The lithium deposits are found underneath the salt flats (contrary to Australia, which mines directly from hard rock deposits).
Bolivia is home to 21 million tons of lithium, followed by Argentina with 19.3 million and Chile with 9.6 million. These numbers are still subject to change, as active exploration leads to an increase in known resources. Identified global lithium resources rose from 53 million tons in 2018 to 89 million tons in 2022, according to the USGS.
π»Three countries - three approaches
π¨π± Chile has transformed the majority of its available resources into economically viable reserves available for commercial production. Having the lowest deposits (out of the three countries), it managed to become the worldβs second-largest commercial producer after Australia. The Atacama salt flat has the highest-quality, proven reserves with a low cost of production.
Things might soon change, though, as the Chilean government announced in April it will nationalize the country's lithium, requiring the state to control 51% of future ventures. Foreign lithium miners, such as Chinese SQM now must renegotiate its contract under the new rules. The Chilean Copper Commission already warns Argentina might overtake Chile as the 2nd world lithium producer by 2035, as Chile's market share is expected to decline.
π§π΄ Bolivia has struggled to transform its lithium resources into commercially viable reserves, due in large part to the poor investment climate and the countryβs political instability. The country nationalized its lithium reserves back in 2008 and missed out on foreign investment opportunities in the following decade. Having recently signed deals with China and Russia, Bolivia hopes to quickly reach high production levels in the coming years.
π¦π· Argentina has created a more favorable investment climate, as it asks for only 3% royalty (lower than Chile, which imposes a progressive royalty that can reach up to 40%). Since 2020, over $4 billion in investments have been announced, with dozens of private sector projects now in the pipeline. Most of these investments come from Chinese companies.
The three countries are in talks about a possible regional alliance on lithium - "a kind of lithium OPEC," as Bolivian President Luis Arce puts it.
π»North America
πΊπΈ North America is also rich in lithium. The U.S. ranks 4th in total resources (9,1 million tons), but the only active lithium mine is in the state of Nevada, producing just 1% of global lithium.
π²π½ Mexico, which also holds some lithium reserves, nationalized its lithium last year and has since announced that only joint ventures with majority state control could exploit the mineral. Those companies that started lithium exploration before the nationalization process began will be able to continue mining under the previous terms.
Despite holding the largest lithium reserves, Latin American countries are lagging behind when it comes to lithium production and processing. So, which countries are actually taking advantage of the growing lithium market?
π»π»π»
Part 2
#analysis #LatAm #lithium #resources #Chile #Argentina #Bolivia #US #Mexico
β οΈ Blood Meridian
β‘οΈπ·πΊπΊπ¦πΈ On the Global Smuggling of Western Arms from #Ukraineβ‘οΈ
π¬ The Telegram Channel Two Majors published interesting information. According to the channel's sources, there are more than 570,000 weapons on the wanted list in #Ukraine, ranging from assault rifles to ATGMs/MANPADS and even artillery pieces.
βοΈOnly a lazy person is not talking about the flourishing corruption in country 404. Those in power are looking for an opportunity to make money at any convenient situation, including on arms supplies.
π Ukrainian "gifts" during the special operation were found in #Mexico, #Europe, #Africa and, of course, in the Middle East. In most cases, there was only a mention without evidence. But this is easily explained, as they try to keep such incidents quiet.
πΉ The actual number of smuggled weapons remains to be seen (especially by sea), but the consequences of the uncontrolled shipment of weapons to #Ukraine are already being felt.
π In conditions of rapidly growing tensions in various regions of the world, the emergence of Ukrainian weapons will hardly be long in coming. In fact, this has already been proved by the experience of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the American ATGM that have been seen in the armoury of Hamas.
πΊ High Resolution: π¬π§πΊπ¦ MAP; π·πΊ MAP
π RYBAR; 26 Oct 2023, 08:45
t.me/sitreports /@rybar/#ass/
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π¬ The Telegram Channel Two Majors published interesting information. According to the channel's sources, there are more than 570,000 weapons on the wanted list in #Ukraine, ranging from assault rifles to ATGMs/MANPADS and even artillery pieces.
βοΈOnly a lazy person is not talking about the flourishing corruption in country 404. Those in power are looking for an opportunity to make money at any convenient situation, including on arms supplies.
π Ukrainian "gifts" during the special operation were found in #Mexico, #Europe, #Africa and, of course, in the Middle East. In most cases, there was only a mention without evidence. But this is easily explained, as they try to keep such incidents quiet.
πΉ The actual number of smuggled weapons remains to be seen (especially by sea), but the consequences of the uncontrolled shipment of weapons to #Ukraine are already being felt.
π In conditions of rapidly growing tensions in various regions of the world, the emergence of Ukrainian weapons will hardly be long in coming. In fact, this has already been proved by the experience of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the American ATGM that have been seen in the armoury of Hamas.
πΊ High Resolution: π¬π§πΊπ¦ MAP; π·πΊ MAP
π RYBAR; 26 Oct 2023, 08:45
t.me/sitreports /@rybar/#ass/
Join SITREPπΊMap Reports - Top Videos - Analyses
Forwarded from Two Majors - English Channel
ππ·πΊπΊπ¦βοΈ Two Majors #Report for the Morning of 11 February 2024; pub. 06:59 - PART 1/2π
πΉIncreasingly, the word "negotiations" is heard from the highest level. Zelensky, for the sake of resigning a more popular than him, Zaluzhny, in an interview with the European press, talks about the impasse in the development of the situation for the AFU, which does not make sense. Nevertheless, we have all been hearing about "negotiations" since the first months of the war, and the Supreme, in a sensational interview, actually called the West incompetent.
πΉThe enemy is still very strong, skillfully holds the defence, tries to exhaust our troops with drones and at the same time conducts mass mobilisation of the population. The figure of 1 million people of the personnel already available in the AFU sounds. Residents of #Ukraine are showing complete spinelessness against the background of the passage of draconian bills on total mobilisation through the Verkhovna Rada. Even the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, which previously bore the proud name "Berkut", grumble, but obey orders and move to the frontline. The repressive apparatus of the Kiev Regime is no longer a figure of speech, about 10 thousand citizens have been convicted of "treason".
πΉNevertheless, there are selfless heroic people in #Ukraine. Dozens of missiles and "Geraniums" of a new modification this week hit military and infrastructure facilities, oil depots. Western media have noted a slight decrease in the effectiveness of the already troubled Ukrainian air defence, linking this to a shortage of ammunition and spurring the governments of the #EU and the #US to allocate more aid to #Ukraine.
πΉThe scandalous decision on the allocation of aid to #Ukraine by the #US Congress, by the way, has been made. Even at the expense of the security of the borders of #Texas and #Mexico. So the priorities are set. The European military is once again scaring the population of its countries with a war with #Russia in an attempt to distract rebellious workers and farmers from internal problems.
βοΈ To the Fronts in π PART 2/2
t.me/two_majors /@sitreports/#smo/
Join 2 MAJORSπΊIt will be interesting. We are here thinking
πΉIncreasingly, the word "negotiations" is heard from the highest level. Zelensky, for the sake of resigning a more popular than him, Zaluzhny, in an interview with the European press, talks about the impasse in the development of the situation for the AFU, which does not make sense. Nevertheless, we have all been hearing about "negotiations" since the first months of the war, and the Supreme, in a sensational interview, actually called the West incompetent.
πΉThe enemy is still very strong, skillfully holds the defence, tries to exhaust our troops with drones and at the same time conducts mass mobilisation of the population. The figure of 1 million people of the personnel already available in the AFU sounds. Residents of #Ukraine are showing complete spinelessness against the background of the passage of draconian bills on total mobilisation through the Verkhovna Rada. Even the special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, which previously bore the proud name "Berkut", grumble, but obey orders and move to the frontline. The repressive apparatus of the Kiev Regime is no longer a figure of speech, about 10 thousand citizens have been convicted of "treason".
πΉNevertheless, there are selfless heroic people in #Ukraine. Dozens of missiles and "Geraniums" of a new modification this week hit military and infrastructure facilities, oil depots. Western media have noted a slight decrease in the effectiveness of the already troubled Ukrainian air defence, linking this to a shortage of ammunition and spurring the governments of the #EU and the #US to allocate more aid to #Ukraine.
πΉThe scandalous decision on the allocation of aid to #Ukraine by the #US Congress, by the way, has been made. Even at the expense of the security of the borders of #Texas and #Mexico. So the priorities are set. The European military is once again scaring the population of its countries with a war with #Russia in an attempt to distract rebellious workers and farmers from internal problems.
βοΈ To the Fronts in π PART 2/2
t.me/two_majors /@sitreports/#smo/
Join 2 MAJORSπΊIt will be interesting. We are here thinking
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Two Majors - English Channel
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