Russian Lithium: Memories of the Future
The main plot is tied to the Kolmozerskoye deposit of rare-earth metals in Murmansk region. The deposit was discovered in 1947 by scientists from the Geological Institute of the Kola Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, it contains over 500 thousand tons of lithium, which makes for about 24% of total national reserves. A year ago production at the deposit was licensed to OOO Polar Lithium, a joint enterprise of Rosatom and MMC Norilsk Nickel.
Field geological exploration work is currently being completed, which would make Russia one of the world's top three leaders in reserves. It is planned to start production as soon as in 2026, and this will most likely allow the country to meet its needs for this metal, and according to a statement by Denis Manturov, First Vice Prime Minister, to start exporting it in 2030. By this time the Ministry of Industry and Trade has plans to get 85 thousand tons of lithium carbonate (hydroxide).
Geological features of the Kolmozerskoye deposit make it unique on a global scale. The principal ore-forming mineral of the deposit is spodumene, containing almost 97% of lithium oxide (Li2O). This is a type of lithium ore from which the metal is significantly easier and cheaper to extract than from the more common lepidolite. Along with lithium, deposits of rare elements - tantalum, niobium, cesium, rubidium, and beryllium have also been discovered, which makes it even more important against the backdrop of a growing demand for raw materials for the production of batteries and electronics.
According to Nikita Maslennikov, lead expert of the Center for Political Technologies, in terms of extraction efficiency and technological feasibility the Kolmozerskoye deposit looks extremely attractive. This is primarily due to its composition of mineral raw material: spodumene is objectively much more valuable to miners than lepidolite. As for the total proven reserves of lithium in the RF territory, according to the last year’s data, these amount to 3,5 million tons of lithium oxide (Li2O). This is 6,5% of the global volume and the fourth place in the world: Bolivia, Argentina and Chile are ahead of us. The reserves are concentrated in two clusters – Murmansk (1,2 million tons) and Irkutsk-Zabaikalye (2,3 million tons).
During the Soviet years, lithium was produced at the country’s only Zavitinsky Mine in Eastern Zabaikalye, built back in 1941. About 40% of the reserves were extracted, and in 1997 the deposit was mothballed due to “adverse economic conditions”, and more specifically due to unprofitability of production. After this, domestic needs were covered mainly by supplies from the three above-mentioned Latin American countries, and this trade was carried out exclusively in hard currency. The West's sanctions freeze on foreign currency reserves of the RF rendered this format unviable: nothing else could be used to pay for the metal, and in 2022 Argentina and Chile suspended deliveries. Ultimately, the import of lithium raw material crashed by 60%, and Russian processing capacity has virtually ceased to function. This is why from the start of the SMO the government (primarily represented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade) became concerned about how to achieve full self-sufficiency in the shortest possible time.
According to Maslennikov, currently in Russia there are 17 lithium ore deposits of varying degrees of development and, correspondingly, involvement in the production process, which, in essence, is just getting started. Mining the ore is only half the job. It is still necessary to build chemical plants and establish the production of compounds suitable for batteries. All of this requires robust infrastructure: treatment, processing, logistics. So for now lithium has to be imported, in very small quantities.
“It is important not to be content with the role of the owner”
There are two ways to mine lithium: hard-rock mining and brine extraction. In the first case the metal is extracted from rock formations in mines (for example, at the Kolmozerskoye deposit), in the second case the metal is extracted from ground waters with high mineral content. The hard-rock mining is more expensive, but it allows to extract lithium within a month. This way remained the only way till the 1990s of the XX century, until in Chile they learned how to extract lithium from brines – concentrates, found at a shallow depth, below two meters. Evaporation of the concentrate (after the concentrate is pumped out of the ground by powerful pumps) requires huge amounts of water: production of a ton of the metal requires almost 2 million liters of water. The process could take up to 18 months. However, the end result more than pays for all the costs.
The range of industrial applications of lithium is inexhaustible. First of all, it is a key component of lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries, without which electric cars and electric buses won't start or drive, and laptops and smartphones won't turn on. All alternative energy sources – wind, solar, wave – require large power storage capacity.
This metal is added to aluminum alloys, reducing their weight and increasing their strength, which is critical for the aerospace and space industries. Lithium compounds are used in nuclear reactor cooling systems, in dentistry and pharmaceuticals, in the production of plastics and building materials. Lubricants with lithium are in demand in the aviation and military industries, because they ensure the operation of equipment in extreme temperature conditions.
“According to forecasts, by 2040 the volume of global consumption of lithium, the lightest metal on the planet, will grow by 40 times”, - says Nikita Maslennikov. – In this situation for Russia it is important not to be content with the role of the owner of world’s largest raw lithium reserves, but to become on par with leading producers and processors. Today, the production volume is about 1 thousand tons per year. It is planned to increase this volume by ten times to 2028 – up to 10 thousand tons, and to achieve complete sovereignty and start exports by 2030”.
According to the expert, a government investment program for ₽150 billion envisions the development at the Kolmozerskoye deposit of a full production cycle for batteries. Lithium, which is also called “white gold”, is a critical element for energy transition: without it, there would be not only electric cars, but no gadgets, power storage and accumulation devices whatsoever”.
Capital City Specifics
As for lithium batteries, their advantages are undeniable: they charge fast (for example, an electric bus charges in 20 minutes), without emitting harmful substances and are highly efficient: up to 95% of the battery energy is utilized. In this regard, we can recall as in the summer of 2020 Moscow completely retired one of the city’s symbols – the trolleybus: the authorities quite reasonably decided that in terms of performance trolleybuses were inferior to electric buses. Indeed, both types of urban public transport run on electricity, but the differences are significant. Moscow’s electric buses, assembled in Neftekamsk, a city in Bashkortostan, at NEFAZ factory, a subsidiary of KAMAZ, are truly mobile (they are not tied to trolleybus power lines), they are more environmentally friendly than trolleybuses and have better off-road capability.
Another obvious advantage is the so-called regenerative braking (Lat. recuperatio — “reverse reception; return”): when the driver applies the brakes, the engine switches to generator mode and begins to charge the batteries. This helps to save energy and increases the range. Lithium-ion batteries (there are also lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt, NMC batteries), used in the electric buses, have high energy density and allow you to travel a significant distance on a single charge. Generally, lithium stores more energy by weight than other battery materials, such as cadmium.
It is also important, that it is fully suitable for recycling because it is not a consumable raw material like oil. Moscow authorities decided to use this property of lithium to benefit the Moscow Metro: lithium-ion batteries, that are no longer in service, are planned to be used in the metro power supply systems, to replace the traditional lead batteries. According to Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor for Transport and Industry, even after the end of their service life in electric buses, batteries retain 40-50% of their original capacity. “They fully comply with all safety requirements and are capable of serving in the metro for about ten more years”, - pointed out the vice-mayor.
There is yet another point: The implementation of this innovative idea will not require additional expenditure from the city budget, unlike purchase of new lead-acid batteries.
General summary: Neither Moscow’s, nor the national economy could do without lithium. Over time, the significance of this alkali metal, its role and place in various spheres of life, from household use to infrastructure megaprojects, will only increase. All that remains is to learn how to make the most of this rich resource potential, of which other countries could only dream. And we’d better be quick about this.
Alexander Larin.