Thailand’s discovery of lithium deposit brings with it tough questions

[webfact]

 

The recent discovery of substantial lithium deposits in Phang Nga, positioning Thailand as the world’s third-largest holder of this valuable resource, brings with it both immense potential and profound challenges.

 

The significance of lithium in today’s world cannot be overstated. As a crucial component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, it is at the forefront of the global shift towards sustainable transportation. This discovery could propel Thailand into a leading role in the EV industry within the ASEAN region, potentially transforming its economy and positioning it as a hub of technological innovation and manufacturing prowess.

 

Deputy Government Spokeswoman Radklao Inthawong Suwankiri’s announcement also highlighted the unearthing of significant sodium deposits in the Northeast region, another key element in EV battery production. Together, these resources could dramatically elevate Thailand’s standing in the global market and contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth.

 

However, this opportunity comes with a daunting caveat: the environmental impact. The lithium and sodium sites are proximate to some of Thailand’s most pristine natural landscapes, areas that are not only visually breathtaking but also vital to the ecological balance and biodiversity. The potential damage to these areas is a serious concern, raising questions about the long-term environmental costs of such an endeavor.

 

By Arun Saronchai

 

Full story: THAI ENQUIRER 2024-01-19

 

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[KhunLA]

Thailand ... Hub of EV Mineral Mining

 

"The lithium and sodium sites are proximate to some of Thailand’s most pristine natural landscapes, areas that are not only visually breathtaking but also vital to the ecological balance and biodiversity."

 

Does it really matter where it is, being all of TH has pristine natural landscapes, and is visually breathtaking 

[mokwit]

China will coerce development.

[herfiehandbag]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

The recent discovery of substantial lithium deposits in Phang Nga, positioning Thailand as the world’s third-largest holder of this valuable resource, brings with it both immense potential and profound challenges.

They can either carefully extract the stuff, minimising the environmental damage, and investing in sustainable industrial development which will transform the nations automotive industry. Or they can sell the rights to extract it, and allow China to strip it out as quickly as possible and leave a devastated lunar landscape. I wonder which?

 

Phang Nga looks absolutely beautiful; sad to see it all gone in a couple of years!

[huangnon]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

The potential damage to these areas is a serious concern, raising questions about the long-term environmental costs of such an endeavor.

 

Ya think.?

 

 

[lordgrinz]

I can see where this is going, the US also has huge deposits, but environmental laws will probably never allow it to be dug up, and they currently rely on an enemy (China) to get their fix.  Now we hear of deposits in Thailand, where regulations and laws can be circumvented with a brown envelope, expect the US to come knocking. Hey, at least if it's dug up in a country that could care less about it's environment, then the US can claim the high ground. Let the poisoning  and exploitation of the poor commence.

[mikebell]

45 minutes ago, webfact said:

this opportunity comes with a daunting caveat: the environmental impact.

Going to take a complete guess here; full steam ahead mining baht and to hell with the environment.

[futsukayoi]

Mining and selling these minerals could make Thailand quite a bit of money and generate plenty of bug brown envelopes for the mining rights.  Allowing this to "propel Thailand into a leading role in the EV industry within the ASEAN region, potentially transforming its economy and positioning it as a hub of technological innovation and manufacturing prowess"  would require a massive improvement in the education system to produce the creaative, highly skilled workers and entreprenuers required.  I wonder which route Thailand will go ?  

[Artisi]

2 minutes ago, futsukayoi said:

Mining and selling these minerals could make Thailand quite a bit of money and generate plenty of bug brown envelopes for the mining rights.  Allowing this to "propel Thailand into a leading role in the EV industry within the ASEAN region, potentially transforming its economy and positioning it as a hub of technological innovation and manufacturing prowess"  would require a massive improvement in the education system to produce the creaative, highly skilled workers and entreprenuers required.  I wonder which route Thailand will go ?  

Is there any money or graft in it, that will answer your question. 

[JoePai]

Keep in mind quote "Lithium is a relatively abundant element on Earth"

[Mr Meeseeks]

11 minutes ago, Artisi said:

positioning it as a hub of technological innovation and manufacturing prowess

 

That doesn't happen just because you are mining the raw materials. 

[stoner]

Thailand’s discovery of lithium deposit brings with it tough questions

 

yes like how do we exploit it. 

[fondue zoo]

Take photos folks, for future memories.

The ten families most probably don't holiday in that area so  Life Mining, Uh, Finds a Way.

 

I wonder how long they've actually known about it, and who was it that made the initial discovery.

[mokwit]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Keep in mind quote "Lithium is a relatively abundant element on Earth"

Not in concentratios that are economically viable for extraction. Those are actually scarce.

[mokwit]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

That doesn't happen just because you are mining the raw materials. 

Which China is the leading processor of, sp where are the upstream industries likely to be?

[KhunLA]

2 hours ago, huangnon said:

 

Ya think.?

 

 

FAKE ...

... that's a Gold mine in Australia

 

Try this one instead ...

... just don't tell anyone it's a copper mine in Chile

 

[quake]

Strip mining in a year or two. fall steam ahead boys.

[mfd101]

18 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Not in concentratios that are economically viable for extraction. Those are actually scarce.

Currently lithium appears to be in some oversupply. Mines in Oz closing down or going on half-rations as prices have fallen considerably (instead of the ever onward & upward expected).

[Xonax]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The lithium and sodium sites are proximate to some of Thailand’s most pristine natural landscapes, areas that are not only visually breathtaking but also vital to the ecological balance and biodiversity. The potential damage to these areas is a serious concern, raising questions about the long-term environmental costs of such an endeavor.

Why are they not mentioning the possible impact on tourism with one word?

[Eric Loh]

I have very little doubt that the government will proceed with the mining. Lithium is just too important as an  integral component of the national strategy to made Thailand a major hub for EV production. The prospecting for Lithium started in 2019 in Ruang Kiet when Pan-Asia was awarded propsecting licences covering 38 sq meters open pit mines. The current Industry minister have already tasked the Primary Industries and Mining to speed up the exploration of potential lithium resoruces. For now the exploration is in Ruang Kiet and Bang E-tham. The government can only say that the technologies to be employed will reduce the impact on the evironment and local resident health. That will be left to be seen. 

[mokwit]

2 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Currently lithium appears to be in some oversupply. Mines in Oz closing down or going on half-rations as prices have fallen considerably (instead of the ever onward & upward expected).

That wasn't really my point, the point I was making was that while Lithium is abundant it is thinly spread and it is really only lake like deposits such as in Chile and rock (spodulite? and others) such as found in Australia that are economic to mine. there are many places where they don't extract/mine lithium. It is mostly those.

[webcrawler00]

2 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Currently lithium appears to be in some oversupply. Mines in Oz closing down or going on half-rations as prices have fallen considerably (instead of the ever onward & upward expected).

Lithium is in an absolute oversupply now and likely will be in the foreseeable future. South America has tons of it. Prices are down and lithium companies are contracting — darn I know as I have invested heavily a few years ago in an American lithium provider which now is losing me a lot of money. Good luck if Thailand thinks they struck gold! 

[Artisi]

4 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

That doesn't happen just because you are mining the raw materials. 

It does in Thailand, considering it's the world's hub of hubs. 

[mokwit]

In fairness, if they don't ruin it with lithium extraction it will be ruined by overtourism anyway.

[retarius]

6 hours ago, mokwit said:

China will coerce development.

Mokwit, you really should call yourself halfwit, because you are half-witted.An Australian company holds rightist the lithium. Take your filthy prejudices and shove them.

[n00dle]

kiss phang na goodbye

[mokwit]

10 minutes ago, retarius said:

Mokwit, you really should call yourself halfwit, because you are half-witted.An Australian company holds rightist the lithium. Take your filthy prejudices and shove them.

Ok fair enough if an Australian company holds rights to ALL the Lithium deposits in Thailand and China doesn't move the nine dash line to incorporate the deposits or pressurise for a breaking of the contracts. Fact is one of China's largest Lithium processors buys from countries where it has limited ability to influence e.g Australia and I am sure China would like to improve on that situation.

 

As for prejudices I was commenting on China's observed modus operendi in every area where it can control or throw it's weight around. Failing that it resorts to key person bribery and that is why it has an aircraft carrier sized wharf in the Solomon Islands for example or why countries are defaulting on loans for projects that benefit china more than themselves.

 

I assume form your comment that you are about the same age as Greta Thunberg and about as worldly so i will leave it there. The AN members can judge for themselves who is the "halfwit".

[n8sail]

For those interested in ACTUAL facts about the 'discovery', and who has the rights to it rather than watching people tear each other down:

Australian Mining company that has rights to the two sites:  https://panasiametals.com/

 

They trade under ASX:PAM

 

A good article describing what they actually found and some history:
https://www.chemanalyst.com/NewsAndDeals/NewsDetails/thailand-lithium-resource-upgrade-on-pan-asias-radar-16930

 

[mokwit]

4 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Currently lithium appears to be in some oversupply. Mines in Oz closing down or going on half-rations as prices have fallen considerably (instead of the ever onward & upward expected).

I sold Ganfeng Lithium as I decided that lithium use expansion is probably one of those things where despite the expansion profiting from is elusive (at least for outside shareholders in listed companies*)

 

Successfully riding a Pink Sheet or Vancouver/AIM/ASX stock promotion the exception, but that is a trade not an investment, you must be gone before the clock strikes midnight/before the serial dilution starts.

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, mikebell said:

Going to take a complete guess here; full steam ahead mining baht and to hell with the environment.

Especially if the Thai military (vs Thai government) has title to any of these lands.  It is the sole decider as to any environmental impact for developement of its property.