China Economy

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

As the United States and China compete to

secure supply chains

that are key to the defence, technology and green energy sectors such as batteries and rare earth, Hawkstone said on Wednesday that lithium from its Big Sandy Lithium Project can be turned into top-grade lithium carbonate at “99.8 per cent purity”, exceeding the industry standard.

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.