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Jindalee Lithium
Investor Insight
Jindalee Lithium’s flagship McDermitt Lithium Project (McDermitt) offers investors exposure to a generational, high-margin critical minerals asset. The recently completed Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) demonstrates robust economics, positioning McDermitt as a key enabler of North America's clean energy transition and a cornerstone of the US critical minerals strategy to de-risk supply chains through increased domestic production.
Overview
Jindalee Lithium (ASX:JLL,OTCQX:JNDAF) is a pure-play lithium company with a strategic focus on the United States. Its 100 percent-owned McDermitt Lithium Project is the largest lithium deposit in the US, boasting a resource of 21.5 million tons (Mt) of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).
Backed by a recently released (November 2024) Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) demonstrating very compelling economics, McDermitt is poised to play a crucial role in meeting North America’s growing lithium demand for battery materials.
As the US continues to transition to clean energy, demand for lithium is expected to exponentially increase. Jindalee’s McDermitt project, located in southeast Oregon, is a game-changer for North American lithium supply, critical for meeting the demands of a fast-growing electric vehicle and renewable energy industries with specific emphasis on developing and de-risking domestic supply chains.
McDermitt also stands to significantly benefit from the US government’s policies and incentives to boost domestic supply of critical resources. In fact, in a move that signifies the US government's support of the McDermitt Project, the US Department of Energy's Ames National Laboratory signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Jindalee's subsidiary HiTech Minerals to develop cutting-edge extraction methods for McDermitt. Under this agreement the US Department of Energy (DOE) will fund work aimed at reducing costs and improving sustainability outcomes for the Project. The Ames National Laboratory spearheads the DOE's Critical Materials Innovation Hub. Jindalee is also advancing an application for a grant from the US Department of Defense, which has the potential to co-fund a feasibility study and associated work programs at McDermitt.
Key milestones in the US lithium resource space also provide significant insights into the future prospects for McDermitt. Lithium Americas’ (TSX:LAC), has received a US$945 million commitment from General Motors, to fund the development, construction and operation of the Thacker Pass project in Humboldt County, Nevada, located 30km away from and in the same geological formation as Jindalee’s McDermitt Lithium Project. LAC has also closed a $2.3 billion US Department of Energy loan in late 2024 to fund approximately 75 percent of the construction capital cost (US$2.93B).
Another lithium resource developer in Nevada, Australia-based Ioneer (ASX:INR) is expected to receive a total investment of US$700 million through a new joint venture with Sibanye Stillwater, in addition to a conditional loan commitment of US$650 million from the US Department of Energy, both acting to strengthen the development of its flagship Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project.
In late 2024, ASX-listed company Patriot Battery Metals Inc (ASX:PMT) announced a C$69 million investment, strategic partnership and offtake agreement with global automotive group Volkswagen which aims underpin the development of Patriot’s upstream lithium project in Quebec, Canada.
These are just a few examples of current market dynamics that point to rapidly accelerating lithium resource development in the US and Canada demonstrating the investment appetite of strategic partners, as well as support from the US government via low-cost concessional debt funding.
An experienced management team, with the right blend of experience and expertise in project development, corporate administration and international finance provides Jindalee with the leadership to fully capitalise on the potential of its assets.
Company Highlights
- Jindalee Lithium is focused on its wholly owned flagship McDermitt Lithium Project, currently the largest lithium deposit in the US
- A PFS for McDermitt – delivered in November 2024 - supports very strong project economics, including a US$3.23 post-tax NPV and a 5 year capital payback period over a 63 year project life
- Jindalee’s McDermitt Lithium Project seeks to assist in the development of US critical minerals supply chains to enable America to meet its energy security and electrification goals
- Jindalee’s wholly owned US subsidiary HiTech Minerals has executed a strategic Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the US Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the DOE’s Critical Materials Innovation (CMI) Hub
- McDermitt is located in the same geological formation and is of similar size and scale to Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass Project, which is backed by major investments from General Motors and the US Department of Energy and is currently under construction
- McDermitt is eligible for a wide range of government incentives including tax credits, grants and concessional loans. Jindalee is currently progressing a grant application with the Department of Defense to potentially co-fund a feasibility study at McDermitt
- In collaboration with lead engineer Fluor, Jindalee has produced battery grade lithium carbonate from McDermitt’s lithium bearing ore in metallurgical testwork.
- Experienced management team is focused on maximising the potential of Jindalee’s assets.
Key Project
McDermitt Lithium Project Economics
The economic metrics revealed in the PFS paint a compelling picture of the McDermitt Lithium Project's potential:
Production Capacity: The Project is set to produce 1.8 Mt of battery-grade lithium carbonate over its first 40 years, with an annual output forecast of 47,500 tonnes per annum (tpa) in the initial 10 years, and averaging 44,300 tpa over the first 40 years.
Financial Metrics: The Project boasts a post-tax net present value (NPV) of US$3.23 billion at an 8 percent discount rate, with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 17.9 percent. These figures underscore the Project's strong economic viability.
Payback Period: Investors can expect a payback period of less than five years, a relatively short timeframe for a project of this magnitude.
Robust margins: Exceptional EBITDA margins of 66 percent over the first 10 years of operations, with C1 costs in the bottom half of industry and 17 percent pre-tax net operating cashflow margins (including sustaining capital) at current bottom of the cycle spot prices (October 2024 spot of US$10,888/t of lithium carbonate)
Significant future upside. Several opportunities identified in the PFS have potential to significantly enhance returns, which includes process optimisation to reduce opex/capex as well as potential for production of by-products. Additionally, there remains significant optionality to further exploit the ore body, with only ~15 percent of the current resource included in the PFS schedule (on contained metal basis).
The PFS estimates a total project cost of US$3.02 billion, which includes a conservative 21 percent contingency provision estimated on P70 basis (70 percent probability total capital cost will be lower), prepared by US headquartered global engineering and construction firm, Fluor Corporation. This substantial investment is expected to provide the platform for a long life, stable supply of domestically sourced battery grade lithium chemicals, which is expected to be highly attractive to partners in the battery value chain.
Project Overview
The McDermitt Project is located in Malheur County on the Oregon-Nevada border and is approximately 35 kilometres west of the town of McDermitt. The 100-percent-owned asset covers 54.6 square kilometres of claims at the northern end of the McDermitt volcanic caldera.
The Project is characterised by its unique sedimentary lithium deposits, primarily composed of lithium-bearing clays, a geological formation that sets McDermitt apart from many other lithium projects worldwide. This sedimentary nature of the deposit offers several advantages, including:
- Consistent grade distribution throughout the ore body
- Potential for large-scale, low-cost mining operations
- Amenability to environmentally friendly extraction methods
The lithium-rich clays at McDermitt are part of a broader geological context that includes volcanic tuffs and sedimentary rocks. This geological setting is indicative of a complex depositional history, which has resulted in the concentration of lithium in economically viable quantities.
The 2023 mineral resources estimate (MRE) for McDermitt contains a combined indicated and inferred mineral resource inventory of 3 billion tonnes at 1,340 parts per million (ppm) lithium for a total of 21.5 Mt LCE at 1,000 ppm cut-off grade. As part of the PFS, a maiden ore reserve estimate was declared of 251 @1,761 ppm Lithium for 2.34 Mt LCE (representing only ~11 percent of MRE)
Project Highlights:
- Rare Sediment-hosted Lithium Deposits: The McDermitt asset supports low-cost mining operations due to its flat-lying sediments. This type of lithium deposit is amenable to low-cost mining operations, while still producing excellent metallurgical results.
- Low cost mining. Ore is soft, free-digging material, located at surface with a strip ratio of only 1.3 over project life. As a result mining costs are relatively low.
- Fluor recommended processing route: In March 2023, US engineering group Fluor reviewed all testwork undertaken at McDermitt and recommended beneficiation and acid leaching as the optimal processing route (similar to that used by more advanced peers in the region).
- Battery-grade lithium carbonate successfully produced: Process flowsheet was validated through PFS test work program, which produced battery grade lithium carbonate in July 2024. This is an important milestone validating all steps of the processing flowsheet for the Project from ore beneficiation and leaching to purification and production of battery-grade lithium carbonate.
- High metallurgical recovery. PFS test work demonstrated exceptional recoveries through beneficiation and acid leaching steps, with an average metallurgical recovery of 84.4 percent over first 40 years, comparing favourably to industry peers.
Management Team
Ian Rodger - Chief Executive Officer
Ian Rodger is a qualified mining business executive with almost 15 years of experience in various roles including as a mining engineer for Rio Tinto across two large greenfield mine developments, before successfully transitioning into mining corporate finance where he held Executive and Director positions at RFC Ambrian overseeing origination and management of numerous mandates across a range of corporate advisory roles. Ian was the project director for Oz Minerals (ASX:OZL) where he made significant contributions to successfully define the value potential of the West Musgrave nickel/copper province through the delivery of a portfolio of growth studies. Most notably, he led technical, market and partnership development workstreams, successfully confirming value potential for producing an intermediate Nickel product for the battery value chain.
Ian holds a Bachelor of Mining Engineering from the University of Queensland, a Masters of Mineral Economics from Curtin University and is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Lindsay Dudfield - Executive Director
Lindsay Dudfield is a geologist with over 40 years of experience in multi-commodity exploration, primarily within Australia. He held senior positions with the mineral divisions of Amoco and Exxon. In 1987, he became a founding director of Dalrymple Resources NL and spent the following eight years helping acquire and explore Dalrymple’s properties, leading to several greenfield discoveries. In late 1994, Lindsay joined the board of Horizon Mining NL (Jindalee Lithium’s predecessor) and has been responsible for managing Jindalee Lithium since inception. Lindsay is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, the Geological Society of Australia and the Society of Economic Geologists. He is also a non-executive director of Jindalee spin-out companies Energy Metals (ASX:EME), Dynamic Metals (ASX:DYM) and Alchemy Resources (ASX:ALY).
Wayne Zekulich - Non-executive Chair
Wayne Zekulich was appointed to the board as Chair on 1 February 2024. He holds a Bachelor of Business and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Zekulich is a consultant and non-executive director who has substantial experience in advising, structuring and financing transactions in the infrastructure and resources sectors. He was previously the head of Rothschild in Perth, chief financial officer of Gindalbie Metals Limited, chief development officer of Oakajee Port and Rail and a consultant to a global investment bank. Currently, he is chair of Pantoro (ASX:PNR) and non-executive director of the Western Australian Treasury Corporation. In the not-for-profit sector, he is the past chair of the Lester Prize and is a mentor in the Kilfinan program.
Darren Wates - Non-executive Director
Darren Wates is a corporate lawyer with over 23 years of experience in equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, resources, project acquisitions/divestments and corporate governance gained through private practice and in-house roles in Western Australia. Darren is the founder and principal of Corpex Legal, a Perth-based legal practice providing corporate, commercial and resources related legal services, primarily to small and mid-cap ASX listed companies. In this role, he has provided consulting general counsel services to ASX listed company Neometals (ASX:NMT) since 2016, having previously been employed as legal counsel of Neometals. Darren holds Bachelor's degrees in Law and Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment.
Paul Brown - Non-executive Director
Paul Brown has over 23 years of experience in the mining industry, most recently with Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) where he was chief executive – lithium, and chief executive – commodities. Paul has held senior operating roles with Leighton, HWE and Fortescue (ASX:FMG) and has a strong track record in technical leadership, project/studies management, and mine planning and management. Paul is currently CEO of Core Lithium Limited (ASX:CXO). He holds a Master in Mine Engineering.
Brett Marsh - VP Geology and Development (US)
Brett Marsh is an AIPG certified professional geologist and a registered member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) with over 25 years of diverse mining and geological experience. He has worked for and held senior leadership roles for Kastan Mining, Luna Gold, Kiska Metals, Newmont, Freeport-McMoRan, Phelps Dodge, ASARCO and consulted to deliver numerous NI 43-101 technical reports. Brett has demonstrated the ability to deliver results in culturally diverse and geographically difficult environments, such as Brazil, Peru, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Tanzania, Indonesia, Australia, and has also worked in remote areas of Alaska. He has managed all phases of the mining lifecycle including greenfield and brownfield exploration, project development (including preliminary economic assessments, pre-feasibility and feasibility), project construction, mine operations, and environmental. He successfully led multi-cultural teams to develop business processes and implementation plans for many mine development and operational projects.
Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate 45MT Tanbreez Rare Earth Project Greenland
The MRE was prepared in 2016 for Rimbal Proprietary Limited and since acquiring the Tanbreez Project in 2022 is reporting the 2016 MRE.
The Tanbreez Fjord and the Tanbreez Hill rare-earth mineral sites are contained within a mineralised Kakortokite host unit covering an area of approximately 5km x 2.5km and 270 meters thick, estimated at 4.7 billion tonnes of Kakortokite. The host does not indicate any certainty of hosting mineralisation.
Tanbreez Project Acquisition
European Lithium first acquire a 5% interest in Tanbreez Mining Greenland A/S (Tanbreez) on 3 October 2022 and acquired a further 2.5% interest in Tanbreez on 6 February 2023. At this time, the investment of 7.5% in Tanbreez was not considered material to the Company and as such the MRE was not disclosed at the time of acquiring an interest in Tanbreez. In June 2024, Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ: CMC) entered into the Heads of Agreement with Rimbal Pty Ltd to acquire up to 92.5% in Tanbreez and have completed the initial investment and stage 1 interest to hold a 42.0% interest in Tanbreez. As of the date of this announcement, European Lithium and CMC hold a combined interest of 49.5% in Tanbreez. European Lithium is CMC's largest shareholder and as such now considers the Tanbreez Project to be material and as a result is announcing the Maiden MRE in this announcement following consultation with the ASX.
CMC has completed due diligence and is preparing a S-K 1300 Report for lodgement with the SEC in the United States of America. It has undertaken a recent drilling program for confirmation, extension and infill drilling to prepare the project for Mine Development Studies and anticipates assay results will be available in the near future.
The Company wishes to report The Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for the Tanbreez Project located in Greenland. This estimate was prepared by Al Maynard and Associates Pty Ltd on 30 August 2016 in accordance with the JORC Code 2012. The authors of the report are independent consultants with a long experience with the project. They are qualified as `Competent Persons' under the JORC Code 2012 and the VALMIN Code 2015. The authors are P.A. Jones, BAppSc (App.Geol), MAusIMM, MAIG., and A.J. Maynard, BAppSc (Geol), MAIG MAusIMM.
The MRE report was commissioned by Rimbal Pty Ltd in 2016, a private company registered in Australia and not required to provide any disclosure. EUR subsequently acquired part of the Project in June 2024 and has now reported the MRE. The Mineral Resource Estimate provided by European Lithium for reference in accordance with ASX Listing Rules as a basis for further public disclosures relating to the Tanbreez Project.
The Mineral Resource Estimate has not been updated and no more recent estimates or data relevant to the reported mineralisation is available.
The estimate is conceptual in nature. It is based on extensive historic and Tanbreez exploration drilling (414 holes) coupled with the exposures in multiple creek sections. Investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
Overview of the Tanbreez Project
The Tanbreez Project is a significant critical minerals asset positioned to provide a sustainable, reliable and long-term rare earth supply for North America and Europe. Once operational, Tanbreez is expected to supply REEs to customers in the western hemisphere to support the production of a wide range of next-generation commercial products, as well as demand from the defence industry. The Tanbreez Project is expected to possess greater than 27% Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs), which carry a much higher value than Light Rare Earth (LREEs). In an industry where competitors primarily target LREE, the Tanbreez Project is believed to be unique, not only due to its significant size, but also because of its HREE asset mix.
2016 Mineral Resource Estimate Summary
Table 1 2016 MRE for Inferred and Indicated Resource Estimate
The Tanbreez Project is favourably located in Southern Greenland and is expected to have access to key transportation outlets as the project's area features year-round direct shipping access via deep water fjords that lead directly to the North Atlantic Ocean.
Commenting on the 45MT MRE, Tony Sage, Executive Chairman of the Company, said:
" /am pleased to report Tanbreez has reached a significant milestone by declaring the MRE that now will allow our next results and drilling develop the initial resource to more tonnes and grade in the coming months"
"The deposit drilling only covers approximately 5% of the total project area and deeper and extension drilling will commence shortly to deliver an even higher resource"
"We are measuring the real potential for Tanbreez on the significant investment over the past 2 decades by Rimbal and this major discovery as my team take this amazing deposit into a world class REE development project".
`lam excited with more good news in the coming the months will be rewarding for all stakeholders as we achieve greater milestones on this important REE project for the western world"
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from European Lithium, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Top 9 Lithium-producing Countries
Manufacturers commonly use lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide in these batteries rather than lithium metal. Lithium-ion batteries also include other important battery metals, such as cobalt, graphite and nickel.
After a volatile 2024 that saw lithium carbonate prices drop 22 percent amid oversupply, analysts predict continued market turbulence in 2025. However, production cuts could narrow the surplus from 84,000 to 33,000 metric tons, while strong EV demand — driven by China's record sales — remains a key factor, as geopolitical tensions and rising tariffs on Chinese EVs add uncertainty in North America.
Despite the recent market challenges, global lithium demand is set to surge over the next decade due to demand from EVs and energy storage. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence forecasts a more than 30 percent year-on-year increase in demand from these sectors in 2025.
Meeting this growth will require up to 150 new battery factories and US$116 billion in investments by 2030 to prevent supply deficits. China will remain dominant, but the EU and US are poised for the fastest expansion. With lithium mining projected to grow at a 7.2 percent compound annual growth rate through 2035, the sector faces a critical decade of investment and supply chain restructuring.
As demand for lithium continues to rise, which countries will provide the lithium the world requires? The latest data from the US Geological Survey shows that the world’s top lithium-producing countries are doing their best to meet rising demand from energy storage and EVs — in fact, worldwide lithium production rose sharply from 2023 to 2024, coming in at 240,000 metric tons (MT) of lithium content last year, compared to 204,000 MT in 2023. These totals do not include US production, as that data is withheld.
What are the top lithium-producing countries?
Where is lithium mined? Australia, Chile and China are the top three for lithium production by country. Zimbabwe has also risen significantly in the ranks, moving from sixth in 2023 to fourth in 2024. As the EV lithium-ion battery market continues to grow, it’s likely these countries will vie for larger roles in supplying the metal in the years to come.
Read on for our list of top global lithium production by country.
1. Australia
Lithium production: 88,000 metric tons
In 2024, Australia produced 88,000 metric tons of lithium, making it the world’s largest producer of lithium. Although the country tops the list, year-over-year production decreased just over 4 percent from 91,700 MT in 2023 to 88,000 MT in 2024.
It's likely the country's lithium production declined in 2024 as a result of weaker demand in the EV space, which in turn pushed lithium prices lower.
Australia is home to many significant lithium mines. The Greenbushes hard rock lithium mine in Western Australia is operated by Talison Lithium, a subsidiary that is jointly owned by miners Albemarle (NYSE:ALB), Tianqi Lithium (OTC Pink:TQLCF,SZSE:002466) and IGO (ASX:IGO,OTC Pink:IPDGF). Greenbushes has been in operation for over a quarter of a century, making it the longest continuously running mining area in the state.
The Greenbushes complex also houses four spodumene concentrate plants with a combined annual production capacity of 1.5 million MT. The mine supplies spodumene to the Kemerton lithium plant and other Albemarle conversion sites worldwide for processing.
Mount Marion, a joint venture between Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN,OTC Pink:MALRF) and Ganfeng Lithium (OTC Pink:GNENF,SZSE:002460,HKEX:1772), is another key lithium mine in Australia. The project, which is located in the Yilgarn Craton, southwest of Kalgoorlie, also contains a processing plant with an annual production capacity of 600,000 MT.
Australia also holds 7 million MT of identified JORC-compliant lithium reserves, which puts it behind Chile’s 9.3 million MT. It is worth noting that most of Australia’s lithium supply is exported to China as spodumene.
2. Chile
Lithium production: 49,000 metric tons
Chilean lithium production topped 49,000 metric tons in 2024. Lithium miners in Chile have steadily increased the nation's output by 127 percent since 2020 when production was 21,500 MT.
Chile’s year-over-year growth has positioned it as the second top lithium producer in the world. Unlike Australia, where lithium is extracted from hard-rock mines, Chile’s lithium is found in lithium brine deposits.
The Salar de Atacama salt flat in Chile generates roughly half the revenue for SQM (NYSE:SQM), a top lithium producer. The Salar de Atacama is also the home of another top lithium brine producer — US-based Albemarle.
In April 2023, market participants and lithium miners were surprised by the Chilean government's plans to nationalize the lithium industry. While ultimately it wasn't a true nationalization, the country is moving to gain controlling stakes in lithium assets in the Salar de Atacama and Maricunga through its state-owned mining company Codelco.
SQM has signed an arrangement with Codelco that will allow it to continue operations in the Salar de Atacama until 2060. The two companies will create a new entity for the operations, with Codelco owning 50 percent plus one share of the company.
Chile’s lithium potential has also attracted the attention of major US oil companies. In February 2025 news broke that Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) is in talks with Chilean officials about lithium opportunities, as fossil fuel firms ramp up investments in EV battery metals.
US oilfield services firm SLB (NYSE:SLB) is also expanding into lithium, with its Head of Mining, Nicholas Lugansky, meeting Chilean officials in January. SLB is among eight companies testing lithium extraction techniques and technologies in northern Chile.
3. China
Lithium production: 41,000 metric tons
China produced 41,000 metric tons of lithium in 2024, earning it the third spot on the top producing countries list. The Asian country saw its lithium supply grow by nearly 15 percent year-on-year, from 35,700 in 2023 to 41,000 in 2024.
China is the largest consumer of lithium due to its electronics manufacturing and EV industries. It also produces more than two-thirds of the world’s lithium-ion batteries and controls most of the world’s lithium-processing facilities. China currently gets the majority of its lithium from Australia, but it is looking to expand its capacity.
In January of 2024, China announced the discovery of a massive million-metric-ton lithium deposit in the country's Sichuan Province. Lithium exploration in China over the last three years has boosted the country’s lithium reserves by 1 million MT, to 3 million MT, according to the USGS.
However, in early 2025 the China Geological Survey, pegged the nation’s total reserves to be more than 30 million MT.
4. Zimbabwe
Lithium production: 22,000 metric tons
In 2024 Zimbabwe's lithium production ballooned to 22,000 metric tons, an exponential increase from 2022’s 800 MT. Year-over-year lithium output rose 47 percent between 2023 and 2024, from 14,900 MT to 22,000 MT.
Total reserves in Zimbabwe have also seen growth climbing from 310,000 MT in 2023 to 480,000 MT as per the US Geological Survey.
In December 2022, Zimbabwe banned the export of raw lithium in an effort to build out the nation's capacity to process battery-grade lithium domestically. The ban excludes companies that are already developing mines or processing plants in Zimbabwe. Lithium concentrate is now on track to become Zimbabwe's third biggest mineral export, behind gold and platinum-group metals, reported Reuters in November 2023.
Lithium-producing countries in Africa have attracted much attention from Chinese firms in recent years, especially Zimbabwe. Sinomine Resource Group (SZSE:002738), for example, bought a stake in Zimbabwe's emerging lithium industry with the purchase of the Bikita mine, the African nation's oldest lithium mine.
Zimbabwe's other key lithium mines include Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt's (SHA:603799) Arcadia mine and state miner Kuvimba Mining House’s Sandawana mine.
In September 2024, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Tsingshan Group,a nickel and stainless steel company, announced plans to study and build a lithium mine and processing plant at Sandawana located in the south of Zimbabwe.
5. Argentina
Lithium production: 18,000 metric tons
Argentina’s annual lithium production grew significantly in 2024, totaling 18,000 metric tons. Year-over-year lithium production increased by more than 100 percent from 8,630 MT in 2023.
It’s well known that Bolivia, Argentina and Chile make up the Lithium Triangle. Argentina’s Salar del Hombre Muerto district hosts significant lithium brines, and its reserves - 4 million MT - are enough for at least 75 years.
At present, lithium mining in the country consists of two major brine operations currently in production and 10 projects that are in development. Analysts at consultancy firm Eurasia Group project that Argentina’s lithium production has the potential to grow approximately tenfold by 2027, as per CNBC.
One of the largest lithium miners in Argentina is Arcadium Lithium (ASX:LTM,NYSE:ALTM), the result of the January 2024 merger of Livent and Allkem. The new entity is the third largest lithium producer in the world. This is soon to change as Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) is set to close its acquisition of Arcadium in early March, bringing its assets under Rio Tinto's umbrella.
Rio Tinto also owns the Rincon lithium brine project, which is set to be a major contributor to the country’s lithium output once it begins commercial production, targeted for 2028. In December 2024, Rio Tinto announced a US$2.5 billion expansion. Once operational, Rincon will use direct lithium extraction technology and produce 60,000 MT of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually, combining a 3,000 MT starter plant and the 57,000 MT expansion.
6. Brazil
Lithium production: 10,000 metric tons
Lithium production in Brazil continues to trend higher. In 2024 the South American nation produced 10,000 MT, almost double 2023’s 5,260 MT. After achieving output of 400 MT or less from 2011 to 2018, the country’s production hit 2,400 MT in 2019 and has continued to rise year-over-year.
Brazil's government plans to invest more than US$2.1 billion by 2030 into expanding the nation's lithium production capacity.
At the state level, in 2023 the Minas Gerais government launched the Lithium Valley Brazil initiative, which is aimed at promoting investment in lithium mining. The program includes four publicly listed lithium companies with assets in the state's Jequitinhonha Valley: Sigma Lithium (TSXV:SGML,NASDAQ:SGML), Lithium Ionic (TSXV:LTH,OTCQX:LTHCF), Atlas Lithium (NASDAQ:ATLX) and Latin Resources (ASX:LRS,OTC Pink:LRSRF).
EV makers are also eyeing Brazil’s lithium market. In February 2025, Reuters reported that Chinese EV giant BYD (OTC Pink:BYDDF,HKEX:1211,SZSE:002594) reportedly entered the mining sector in 2023, when it acquired 852 hectares of lithium-rich land in Minas Gerais' Jequitinhonha Valley. The company is currently building an EV factory in Bahia state, but construction was paused at the end of 2024 due to "slavery-like" working conditions.
7. Canada
Lithium production: 4,300 metric tons
Canada's lithium production increased to 4,300 metric tons in 2024, representing a 32 percent uptick from 2023’s 3,240 MT.
The country currently produces lithium from two operations: the Tanco mine in Manitoba, owned by Sinomine subsidiary Tantalum Mining, and the North American Lithium operation in Québec, a joint venture between Piedmont Lithium (ASX:PLL,NASDAQ:PLL) and Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA,OTCQX:SYAXF).
While Canada is home to a wealth of hard-rock spodumene deposits and lithium brine resources, much of it remains underdeveloped. In an effort to grow a strong North American lithium supply chain for the battery industry, the government has invested in a number of lithium projects, including C$27 million for E3 Lithium (TSXV:ETL,OTCQX:EEMMF), a lithium resource and technology company, and C$1.07 million to private company Prairie Lithium. Both are developing direct lithium extraction technology in Canada's prairie provinces Alberta and Saskatchewan.
In November 2023, the Canadian government launched the C$1.5 billion Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund. The fund seeks to address gaps in the infrastructure required for the sustainable development of the nation’s critical minerals production, including battery metals like lithium.
Canada's efforts were rewarded in early 2024, when BloombergNEF gave the nation the top spot in the fourth edition of its Global Lithium-ion Battery Supply Chain Ranking.
At the end of 2024, the Canadian government’s Export Development Canada program pledged up to C$100 million in financing to Green Technology Metals (ASX:GT1,OTC Pink:GTMLF) for the development of Ontario's first lithium mine at Seymour Lake.
8. Portugal
Lithium production: 380 metric tons
Portugal's lithium production remained flat in 2024 coming in at 380 metric tons, the same tally as the previous year. Output has declined drastically since 2021, when its lithium production reached 900 MT.
Most of Portugal's lithium comes from small-scale operations targeting quartz and feldspar. Despite this lithium-producing country’s comparatively low output, Portugal’s lithium reserves stand at 60,000 MT.
In September 2024, Savannah Resources (LSE:SAV,OTC Pink:SAVNF) delayed the start of lithium production at its Barroso project in Portugal to 2027, citing prolonged environmental approval processes and regulatory hurdles. The project has also received public backlash due to concerns about the environmental impact of lithium mining.
The project, set to be Western Europe’s first significant lithium mine, is projected to play a pivotal role in the EU’s ambitions of battery material self-sufficiency. Despite the setback, Savannah remains committed to advancing the development, emphasizing its role in strengthening Europe’s EV supply chain.
9. United States
Lithium production: Withheld
In the final place on this top lithium-producing countries list is the US, which has withheld production numbers to avoid disclosing proprietary company data. Its only output last year came from two operations: a Nevada-based brine operation, most likely in the Clayton Valley, which hosts Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine, and the brine-sourced waste tailings of Utah-based US Magnesium, the largest primary magnesium producer in North America.
There are a handful of major lithium projects underway in the US, including Lithium Americas’ (TSX:LAC,NYSE:LAC) Thacker Pass lithium claystone project, Piedmont Lithium's hard-rock lithium project and Standard Lithium’s (TSXV:SLI,OTCQX:STLHF) Arkansas Smackover lithium brine project.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
