Australia’s greener path in a competitive global lithium supply chain
Lithium is vital for the decarbonization transition. With Australian mines supplying over 50% of global demand, building greener lithium mining in Australia is essential. Therefore, this study conducts a site-specific assessment of all seven Australian mine sites in the latest decade, examining fact...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/adf663 |
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| Summary: | Lithium is vital for the decarbonization transition. With Australian mines supplying over 50% of global demand, building greener lithium mining in Australia is essential. Therefore, this study conducts a site-specific assessment of all seven Australian mine sites in the latest decade, examining factors such as ore yield, grade, mining costs, and emission intensity. Our analysis reveals that while Greenbushes is the lowest emitter, its limited lifespan, along with the planned expansions of other sites that have higher emission intensities, can significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions from the lithium supply in the future. To address the challenges of emissions and fluctuating lithium prices, Australia must make a sustainable strategic shift toward greater involvement in the downstream supply chain, including refining and manufacturing. A regional comparison with the Lithium Triangle highlights Australia’s mining strength and potential to become a greener lithium producer by diversifying its energy mix with renewables, adopting advanced technologies for low-grade ore recovery, and implementing strong policy frameworks to support collaborative mid-sized and emerging projects. These approaches will strengthen Australia’s role in the decarbonization transition, environmentally and economically. |
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| ISSN: | 2634-4505 |