Is a lithium-ion battery race taking place in Afghanistan?

While Goldman Sachs predicts a tripling of the lithium market by 2025, a race to secure supplies is taking place in Afghanistan. The lithium-ion battery story begins with chemistry and ends with innovation.

Is Afghanistan the Saudi Arabia of lithium?

The global race for lithium, a crucial component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, has shifted attention to Afghanistan, hailed as the “ Saudi Arabia of lithium.” As China dominates the EV market, Afghanistan’s vast lithium deposits have become a geopolitical focal point.

How much lithium does Afghanistan have?

A decade ago, U.S. geologists estimated Afghanistan’s mineral wealth, including lithium at $1 trillion — enough potentially to stabilize the country’s fragile economy. Afghanistan’s current Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has identified an abundance of lithium reserves in provinces like Helmand, Nuristan, and Ghazni.

Is Afghanistan a potential epicenter for lithium extraction?

The narrative of Afghanistan as a potential epicenter for lithium extraction introduces a new dimension to the international race for sustainable resources, emphasizing the intricate interplay between geopolitics, energy transition, and the critical role of lithium in shaping the future of transportation.

Could lithium be the backbone of Afghanistan's economy?

The economic impact of this mining discovery is simply enormous: the total reserves represent about 1,000 billion. The two main sources of lithium are hard rock sources in pegmatites and in solution within continental brines, both of which are present in Afghanistan. This might become the backbone of the Afghan economy.

Is lithium the new gold for Afghanistan?

In response to the question above Lithium is not the new gold for Afghanistan since the preconditions are so questionable: The Taliban and ISIS-K dreams of a money flow by Lithium will not happen. And this applies to other raw materials, too. For instance, many rare earth elements can be found in Afghanistan.