New players in the "white gold" play..Lithium boom: Argentina is...

New players in the "white gold" play..

Lithium boom: Argentina is at the epicenter of a new ‘white gold’ rush (cnbc.com)

...Prices of lithium carbonate in China traded at roughly 166,500 yuan ($23,124) ahead of the country’s annual “Golden Week” holiday, reflecting a fall of nearly 70% when compared to the same period last year.

Looking ahead, however, demand for lithium is expected to be supercharged by the rising deployment of clean energy technologies and some analysts believe prices could spike to record highs as the world begins to face a shortage....

...“When it comes to lithium [in Argentina], you cannot skip but you can fast forward that process, so it really reduces that exposure,” he added. “We’re seeing investors and operators from all walks of life coming into the country; Russian, Canadian, Chinese, American, you name it, that’s happening — which is very interesting.”...

...Argentina’s northern provinces have a history of extractive activities — and opposition to them from the local community.Analysts have warned that the lithium industry’s domestic expansion could trigger protests over water access, environmental concerns, and indigenous disputes.Indeed, in early August, indigenous protesters from the northern Jujuy province arrived in Argentina’s capital of Buenos Aires after a week-long caravan in defense of their territories and natural resources.The protests took place shortly after a controversial change in legislation gave lithium mining companies greater access to indigenous lands....