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The extraction rates and R/P (reserves to production) ratio for many of the critical minerals and metals needed for going “green” are alarming, and most of these natural resources are NOT being replenished. This suggests a worrisome possibility of an unsustainable approach to the current policies of subsidies for “green” energies. Furthermore, even countries with the largest reserve base face important challenges to increasing production growth to meet projected future demand.
- LITHIUM: In 2024, the world mined about 240,000 tons of lithium, almost three times the amount mined in 2020. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that demand for lithium will increase to 450,000 tons per year by 2030. Despite a significant world resource base, production of those resources remains a major challenge.
- COBALT: In 2024, the world produced an estimated 280,000 metric tons of cobalt, the highest amount ever recorded. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was the world’s leading producer, accounting for 74% of the global total, while the country is known for the major problems with child labor and poor working conditions of its mineral sector.
Today, a typical EV battery for a Tesla sedan weighs 1,000 pounds and includes these minerals and metals:
- 26 pounds of lithium
- 10 pounds of cobalt
- 110 pounds of nickel
- 9 pounds of manganese
- 55 pounds of copper
- 44 pounds of aluminum
- 154 pounds of graphite
- Plus, steel, plastic, and other metals for the battery casing.
It should concern everyone that all those “blood minerals,” mostly from developing countries, come from mining at locations in the world that are never inspected or seen by policymakers and EV buyers.
For instance, to manufacture each EV auto battery, you must process 25,000 pounds of brine for lithium, 30,000 pounds of ore for cobalt, 6,000 pounds of ore for nickel, and 25,000 pounds of ore for copper. All told, just one Tesla EV battery requires the processing of more than 500,000 pounds of materials somewhere on the planet.
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