RANKED: World’s top 10 biggest lithium mines

Lithium is a crucial component in the batteries that power the electric vehicles the world needs to accelerate the green energy transition. While lithium prices were white hot late last year, peaking in December at around US$70,000 a tonne, discounts offered by Chinese battery giant CATL to automakers contributed to a price drop earlier this year.

In the long term, McKinsey Battery Insights predicts that the entire lithium-ion battery chain, from mining through recycling, could grow by over 30% annually to 2030, reaching a value of more than US$400 billion and a market size of 4.7 TWh.

In a spotlight on the world’s top producing lithium mines —  covering a significant amount of global lithium production — Mining Intelligence Data has ranked the biggest operations, based on lithium in concentrate produced in 2022 and measured in tonnes. (Note: Mines in China and Brazil, which are large global producers of lithium, have been omitted from the table due to a lack of mine-level data.)

#1 Greenbushes

Geology: Pegmatite

In first place is Albemarle‘s (NYSE: ALB) Greenbushes lithium mine in Australia, which produced 37,500 tonnes of lithium in 2022. Former JV partner Tianqi Lithium invested US$382 million to increase production in 2018, but Albemarle took full control in 2020 as Tianqi sold its assets to pay down debts.

#2 Salar de Atacama

Geology: Brines

In second place is SQM‘s (NYSE: SQM) operation at the Salar de Atacama – the largest salt flat in Chile. SQM produced 29,500 tonnes of lithium last year, as it worked on a project to mitigate the overall impact of its lithium operations by cutting usage of freshwater and brine in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places in the world.

#3 Pilgangoora

Geology: Pegmatite

Pilbara Minerals‘ (ASX: PLS) Pilgangoora mine in Australia is in third place with 13,100 tonnes of lithium produced. Last year, Pilbara invested US$205 million to increase output at Pilgangoora.

#4 Salar de Atacama

Geology: Brines

Fourth place goes to Albemarle’s operations in Chile, where it’s extracting lithium from brine in the massive Salar de Atacama. The operation produced 10,000 tonnes of lithium in 2022.

#5 Mt Marion

Geology: Pegmatite

Ganfeng Lithium and Mineral Resources‘ (ASX: MIN) Mt Marion mine in Western Australia is in fifth place with 9,400 tonnes of lithium produced.

#6 Wodgina

Geology: Pegmatite

Albemarle and Mineral Resources’ jointly-owned Wodgina mine in Western Australia is in sixth place with 4,900  tonnes produced. The companies pulled off a speedy restart of operations at Wodgina last year after they were halted in late 2019 because of then-weak markets.

#7 Salar de Hombre Muerto

Geology: Brines

Livent Corp‘s (NYSE: LTHM) operations at the Salar de Hombre Muerto in Argentina take seventh place with 3,200 tonnes produced. Last year, General Motors prepaid the company US$198 million for a guaranteed six-year supply of lithium.

#8 Mt Cattlin

Geology: Pegmatite

In eighth place is Allkem‘s (TSX: AKE; ASX: AKE) Mt. Cattlin mine in Western Australia with 2,700 tonnes of lithium produced in 2022.

#9 Salar de Olaroz

Geology: Brines

Allkem also takes ninth spot for the 2,600 tonnes of lithium produced at its operations at the Salar de Olaroz in northern Argentina.

#10 Silver Peak

Geology: Brines

Rounding out the list is Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine in Nevada, with 2,000 tonnes produced. In 2021, the world’s largest lithium producer said it planned to invest US$30 million to US$50 million to double production at Silver Peak by 2025, making full use of its brine water rights.

More data is available at Mining Intelligence.