Tianqi Lithium
| Industry | Mining, Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Sichuan Tianqi Lithium Industries, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Sichuan , China |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Lithium mining and processing |
Tianqi Lithium Corp (; previously known as Sichuan Tianqi Lithium Industries, Inc.) is a Chinese enterprise specializing in mining and manufacturing, with its headquarters located in Sichuan. By 2018, the company accounted for more than 46% of the world's lithium output.
Production
In 2018, worldwide lithium production through spodumene was around 80,000 metric tonnes per year, predominantly extracted from the Greenbushes pegmatite deposit in Western Australia, alongside mining activities in China and Chile. The Talison mine at Greenbushes ranks as the second largest globally and boasts the highest ore concentration at 2.4% Li2O (based on 2012 figures).
Acquisitions
Since 2009, Tianqi has maintained a majority ownership of 51% in Talison Lithium, which operates the Greenbushes mine in Australia. In 2018, the company invested US$600 million to establish a lithium processing facility in Kwinana, located in Western Australia.
That same year, Tianqi purchased a 24% equity interest in the Chilean mining firm Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) for approximately $4.1 billion by acquiring 62.5 million SQM A shares at $65 apiece from Canadian fertilizer producer Nutrien. This strategic investment granted Tianqi vital access to lithium resources crucial for manufacturing rechargeable batteries used in mobile devices and electric vehicles.
Currently, Tianqi is engaged in litigation with MSP Engineering over outstanding payments exceeding $39 million related to the construction of the Kwinana lithium hydroxide plant. Although the Western Australia Supreme Court ordered payment within seven days, Tianqi has requested a suspension of this ruling, leaving the dispute unresolved.
Carbon footprint
As reported on 31 December 2020, Tianqi Lithium Corp's combined direct and indirect CO2e emissions totaled 259 Kt, indicating its environmental footprint within the lithium industry.