7 Biggest Lithium-Mining Companies in 2024

Lithium mining has become a foundational element of the modern energy transition. Often called "white gold," lithium is needed for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles (EVs) and grid-scale energy storage solutions.

Two primary methods dominate lithium extraction: hard rock mining and brine extraction. Hard rock mining, commonly used in Australia, extracts lithium-rich minerals like spodumene from ore. This ore undergoes intense processing to yield battery-grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, which are vital for battery manufacturing. Brine extraction, predominantly practiced in South American salt flats, involves pumping lithium-rich saline water into evaporation ponds, where the sun's heat slowly concentrates lithium, making it easier to refine.

For example, new methods, like direct lithium extraction (DLE), are designed to reduce water consumption and environmental impact. Unlike traditional brine evaporation, DLE uses chemical processes to selectively pull lithium from the brine, drastically reducing water usage and improving yield. This makes the method especially valuable in environmentally sensitive areas where water conservation is a priority. Meanwhile, advances in ore-sorting technology have boosted the efficiency of hard rock mining, reducing both waste and energy consumption.

Related:Breaking the Battery Industry’s Mineral Supply Crunch

As nations set ambitious climate goals, lithium demand is expected to exceed supply for years to come. However, environmental concerns and geopolitical tensions surrounding resource control remain. Despite these hurdles, lithium mining stands as one of the most promising fields in the modern energy landscape.

Read on to learn about the seven largest lithium mining companies in the world as of 2024.