From Asia Times, October 4:
Alliance could put Australia in global battery supply chains, make Indonesia an EV battery hub and support US-led Mineral Security Partnership
Lithium-ion batteries, composed of minerals including lithium, nickel and cobalt, have the potential to be game-changers in decarbonization.
However, their efficacy is contingent upon several factors, such as China’s predominant role in minerals processing and downstream applications, supply chain complexities and future technologies related to battery minerals supply chains. The stakes in this endeavor are high.
The bulk of reserves of these minerals are concentrated in a few nations. Indonesia accounts for 37% of the world’s nickel production, Australia for 55% of lithium and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for 70% of cobalt.
However, China holds a dominant position in the processing of these vital minerals, not only within its own borders but also through the ownership or control of critical mineral resources globally. Specifically, it oversees the refinement of 58% of the world’s lithium, 67% of cobalt and 35% of nickel into battery-grade chemicals for cathodes.
The geographic concentration of production and processing of battery minerals, particularly China’s predominance in processing capacity, adds volatility to geopolitics, in which energy security has always been a paramount concern....
....MUCH MORE
It's a big deal if the countries can make it work. However, as with rare earths, the real key is in the fabrication and that's not an easy thing to start from scratch.
It might be time to give Tesla a chance to rectify their faux pas regarding the Indonesian government. TSLA seems to have some manufacturing skills that might be adaptable from the cells end of the battery biz to the upstream part of the supply chain.
Related from earlier this year:
Elon Musk Said Lithium Mining Is Not A Bottleneck, Lithium Refining Is; And He Thought... (TSLA)
...we should do that....
