In light of China‘s surging electric vehicle (EV) industry, concerns are mounting about the ecological and human rights impact of lithium mining in the Tibetan plateau, as per a recent report by phys.org.
China, as the global frontrunner in the EV market, has been dependent on external nations for its lithium, the critical component used in EV batteries. However, this trend is shifting as Beijing begins tapping into the vast lithium reserves on the Tibetan plateau, which holds about 85% of the country’s total lithium.
This shift has garnered significant attention from Turquoise Roof, a collective of Tibetan researchers. As highlighted in their report, the current “white gold rush” has given rise to environmental concerns. They have pointed out the potential for environmental degradation due to “quick, cheap, and dirty” mining practices by Chinese miners. As phys.org quoted from the Turquoise Roof research, such unregulated mining can result in “devastating” pollution, particularly in regions already under the threat of climate change.
Further intensifying these concerns is the evidence of the direct impact of lithium mining on the local ecosystem. The report highlighted an incident in Sichuan, where a mine’s operations purportedly resulted in the death of thousands of fish and detriment to grasslands, which local Tibetan herders depended on.
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One of the more alarming revelations from the research is the implication of major car manufacturers in this lithium exploitation. Both Tesla and its Chinese rival BYD are “increasingly reliant on Tibet‘s lithium exploitation”, as per the Turquoise Roof’s findings.
While these mining activities are expected to bolster China‘s EV market and reduce dependency on international lithium suppliers, they are raising eyebrows for reasons beyond environmental concerns. Turquoise Roof states that local Tibetans are often left in the dark about these mining activities. Citing an instance from the report, a lucrative lithium deposit in a Tibetan autonomous county in Sichuan instigated a fierce bidding competition among firms. This contest was eventually clinched by Chinese battery behemoth CATL. However, the indigenous Tibetans “were not informed that their hill pastures were being sold,” Turquoise Roof pointed out.
China‘s relationship with Tibet has long been contentious. Although Beijing claims to have brought development and education to the region since 1951, many Tibetans in exile view it as a period marked by repression, cultural erosion, and human rights violations.
This new revelation about lithium mining only adds another layer to the ongoing issues in the region. With China looking to boost its domestic supply of critical minerals due to deteriorating relations with Western exporters, the emphasis on Tibet‘s lithium reserves is expected to grow.
While the global demand for electric vehicles surges, it’s imperative to consider the broader implications of such a demand, especially in ecologically sensitive regions like the Tibetan plateau.
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