Australian lithium miner ready for ‘dynamic shift’ in EV battery supply chain amid US-China tensions
- Australian miner Hawkstone Mining has successfully produced battery-grade raw lithium at its Big Sandy Sedimentary Lithium Project in Arizona
- Lithium is a keystone metal in the manufacturing of electric vehicle (EVs) batteries, while battery-grade lithium carbonate is used to make the cathode material for lithium-ion batteries used in EVs
Australian miner Hawkstone Mining has successfully produced battery-grade raw lithium at its Arizona mine that would be valuable to US critical mineral and battery supply chains amid a global race to step up security in key sectors.
Lithium is a keystone metal in the manufacturing of electric vehicle (EVs) batteries, while battery-grade lithium carbonate is used to make the cathode material for lithium-ion batteries used in EVs.
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Hawkstone’s Big Sandy project, significant due to its location within a key battery production corridor in the US and to the Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada, can now move to drilling and the design of a production plant.
“The US departments of energy and defence are accelerating solicitations for Federal support of technology-based solutions and new sources to secure domestic supply chain security of critical battery metals. Hawkstone is well positioned to capitalise on this dynamic shift in Federal policy with its Big Sandy Sedimentary Lithium Project,” the company said in a statement.
Hawkstone said the development of lithium projects had long been a priority for the US government, particularly after the Federal Strategy to Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals executive order was signed 2017.
The move comes as many countries seek to achieve self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, with China dominating the global production of EV lithium-ion batteries.