The Lithium Boom: Lithium Sources and Prospects for the Russian Lithium Industry

A. Yu. Tsivadzea, *, A. A. Bezdomnikova, and G. V. Kostikovaa

a Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071 Russia

Correspondence to: *e-mail: atsiv43@mail.ru

Received 28 May, 2023

Abstract—The explosive development of renewable energy in recent years is reshaping the geopolitical picture of the world. Solar panels and wind turbines have become the symbol of the new energy transition, while lithium-ion batteries have become its basis and the driver of development. It was lithium-ion batteries that made it possible to overcome the main problem of renewable energy – inconstancy and uncontrollability. The article highlights the lithium problem, the reasons for the volatility of lithium prices, the main sources of lithium and the difficulties of its production. In addition, the prospects of development of lithium industry in Russia and current domestic developments in lithium mining technology are considered.

Keywords: lithium, mineral lithium raw material, hydromineral lithium raw material, spent lithium-ion batteries, extraction, sorption

DOI: 10.1134/S1075701523050094