It aims to become Russia’s first-ever domestic producer of lithium-bearing raw materials and eventually build full local production of lithium-ion batteries. The project was originally expected to reach full annual production capacity of 45,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate and hydroxide by 2030.
Russian nuclear energy giant Rosatom has acquired a 49% stake in Enertech International, a South Korean lithium-ion battery specialist, and has announced plans to build a gigafactory at an unspecified location in Russia. The start of production is scheduled for 2025.
There are plans to set up domestic production. “Accelerated development of lithium ore mining projects at the Zavitinskoye, Polmostundrovskoye, Kovyktinskoye, Yaraktinskoye and Kolmozerskoye deposits in 2023–2030 will help meet most of domestic demand for lithium,” says the Russian Metals Industry Development Strategy 2030 adopted last December.
Kolmozerskoye lithium deposit. (Image: Association of RM and REE) Russia plans to speed up its only lithium production project by 3-4 years from an originally planned 2030 to cut its dependence on imports and battery components, the CEO of the Polar Lithium joint venture said on Thursday.
“Accelerated development of lithium ore mining projects at the Zavitinskoye, Polmostundrovskoye, Kovyktinskoye, Yaraktinskoye and Kolmozerskoye deposits in 2023–2030 will help meet most of domestic demand for lithium,” says the Russian Metals Industry Development Strategy 2030 adopted last December. All of the mentioned sites are not easy to mine.
In addition, the prospects of development of lithium industry in Russia and current domestic developments in lithium mining technology are considered. Lithium electric current sources are also an integral part of portable electronics, electric vehicles, and self-driving vehicles that increasingly penetrate our lives.