With the increasing global attention to environmental issues, countries ban the sale of fuel vehicles, in this context, the market is increasingly optimistic about new energy vehicles. As the core of new energy vehicles, the power battery is naturally sought after by the industry. But as the world continues to face a lithium shortage, Western countries are actively seeking to develop domestic supply chains for battery materials in order to have a greater say.
But as recent protests across Europe and North America have shown, a significant number of communities near mining sites are reluctant to allow companies to mine lithium in their immediate vicinity. They argue that lithium mining harms the environment around communities and affects their quality of life.
Even in Portugal, a country with a long history of lithium mining, Savannah Resources' Mina do Barroso petite project, which has been an industry model in terms of community participation and environmental impact assessment, was not subject to opposition from the media and local communities.
Portugal has done so, and so have other lithium mines. Piedmont Lithium previously proposed an open-pit Lithium mine in Gaston County, NORTH Carolina, which, unsurprisingly, was opposed by local communities. To this end, Piedmont Lithium went out of its way to address "media reports of misconceptions about Piedmont's development schedule, permit applications, and environmental commitments," but residents and community committee members continued to argue that Piedmont Lithium was putting the cart before the horse. It may affect the quality of life of local people.
Not all projects are out of the question, though. A U.S. judge ruled that Lithium Americas could proceed with the Thacker Pass Lithium clay project in Nevada, citing "insufficient evidence provided by opponents at the time of the ruling."
But this is only one of several cases in Europe and North America where protests against lithium mining operations have become common because of concerns about the impact on communities. After all, the mining industry in western countries remains unsanitary and hazardous until now. As a result, although Countries in North America and Europe are trying to expand regional supply chains to improve security of supply and reduce the distance from which raw materials can be transported, they are struggling to do so because of opposition from local lawmakers and residents.
