Demand for lithium, a key element for electrical automobile batteries, is anticipated to surge, from 500,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate in 2021 to a few to 4 million metric tons in lower than a decade, based on McKinsey & Firm.

Albemarle, the world’s high producer of this crucial metallic and the operator of mines in Australia, Chile and the U.S., says it plans to deliver one other home lithium mine on-line by 2027 — Kings Mountain in North Carolina. It already operates Silver Peak in Nevada.

Albemarle can also be constructing a $1.3 billion processing facility in South Carolina, the place it’s going to course of battery-grade lithium hydroxide. The plant will assist the manufacturing of two.4 million electrical autos yearly and have the ability to course of lithium from recycled batteries.

Regardless of that development, Albemarle faces numerous potential headwinds together with a doable financial downturn that would gradual the demand for EVs, new battery chemistries that would scale back the necessity for lithium, battery recycling and extra opponents. Tesla started development of a lithium refinery in Texas in 2023.  

To higher perceive how lithium, often called “White Gold,” is extracted, the challenges concerned and the place manufacturing is transferring to subsequent, CNBC obtained a behind-the-scenes take a look at Albemarle’s operations in Chile and the U.S.

Watch the video to study extra.