Russia has large reserves of lithium, which allows it to cover its own needs and send surplus lithium products for export. This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, Alexander Kozlov.
According to him, the consumption of lithium products in Russia is now insignificant — 1.5 thousand tons in terms of lithium carbonate (LCE). After the commissioning of gigafactories for the production of lithium-ion batteries, the needs will increase and by 2030 will amount to 6.5 thousand tons of LCE.
Russia's raw material base will fully cover not only these needs, but also higher ones.
According to the ministry, lithium reserves in the country are estimated at 3.6 million tons of lithium oxide. The main deposits are located in Siberia, the Far East and the Kola Peninsula (Murmansk region).
Previously, metal production was minimal, as Russia imported it from Chile and Argentina. After the introduction of sanctions, industrialists focused on developing their own raw material base.
Read more materials on the topic:
- From old batteries to pure lithium: Russia has developed a method for extracting metals from batteries
- "Industrial breakthrough for Russia": the country's first "gigafactory" of lithium-ion batteries was launched in the Kaliningrad region
- The gigafactory of lithium-ion batteries in the Kaliningrad region will reach its design capacity by the summer of 2026
