from AI - "Flooding in Southern and Central China Poses Potential Risk to Hard-Rock Lithium SectorWhile China's high-altitude lithium brine operations in Qinghai and Tibet have been spared from the recent devastating floods, several of the nation's key hard-rock lithium mining and processing hubs are located in provinces that have been significantly impacted by the severe weather in June 2025. However, specific reports detailing damage or operational disruptions at these facilities remain scarce.The provinces of Hunan and Jiangxi, both significant centres for lepidolite mining, have been among the hardest hit by the recent torrential rains and subsequent flooding. Hunan province, in central China, has experienced record-breaking floods, leading to widespread evacuations and significant damage to infrastructure. Similarly, Jiangxi province in the southeast, home to the major lithium hub of Yichun, has also been grappling with severe flooding and has been under high alert. Yichun is often referred to as Asia's "lithium capital" due to its substantial lepidolite resources and processing capabilities.Sichuan province, a major source of spodumene, a key lithium-bearing mineral, has also been on high alert for flooding and secondary disasters like landslides. While not as severely impacted as Hunan and Jiangxi, the risk to mining operations in the mountainous regions of Sichuan remains.Furthermore, Zhejiang province, where major lithium chemical processing and battery component manufacturing facilities are located, including in the cities of Rugao and Zhangjiagang, has activated emergency responses to flooding. These plants are crucial for converting raw lithium materials into the high-purity chemicals required for battery production.
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