Mexico Showcases 82 Lithium Deposits Across 18 States

According to the US Geological Survey, Mexico has an estimated lithium resource of 1.7 million t. The country has 82 lithium deposits across 18 states, with 13 located in Sonora, 12 in Puebla 12, nine in Oaxaca, eight in Nuevo Leon, seven in Durango and five in both Chihuahua and Tamaulipas. Coahuila, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas have three each, while Chiapas, Michoacan, Morelos, Sinaloa and Veracruz have one each.

The list of global lithium producers comprises only eight countries. Canada is the only country to have joined this group in the past 10 years. Nevertheless, the world’s biggest lithium reserves are located in Latin America. According to the 2021 USGS Mineral Commodity Summary, the lithium triangle of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia holds around 58 percent of the world's lithium deposits.

Experts have warned that the Mexican government will have to invest heavily and that it will take at least 20 years to begin extracting lithium. Despite the challenges, they believe that Mexico could take advantage of the electromobility transition since its location and resources enhance its competitiveness, though these opportunities may be hampered due to state intervention and a lack of infrastructure and research. Another challenge is that Mexico's lithium reserves are in clay deposits, making extraction a difficult process.

Recently, Alejandro Armenta, President of the Senate, highlighted the importance of lithium as a crucial mineral for the energy transition. Furthermore, he emphasized that the decentralized organization, LitioMx, will ensure exclusive use of this mineral for the nation and that exploration will be carried out by Mexican companies, with LitioMx regulating private domestic and foreign investment for its utilization. The first session of LitioMx's Board of Directors took place at the end of last year, led by Minister of Energy, Rocío Nahle. During the session, Nahle stated that LitioMx will receive human and structural resources "borrowed" from SENER to start its activities.

The increase in demand and price of the mineral has raised the profitability of lithium projects. According to the latest report from the US Geological Survey, there are now a record number of 14 large mining projects for lithium extraction in operation, as Australia and Chile became the largest producers of the metal, leaving China, the largest consumer, far behind. China produced 19,000t/y of lithium in 2022, while Australia produced 61,000t. The other countries on the list produce less than 10,000t/y.