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Yicai Global: Chinese city of Yichun, known as Asia’s lithium capital, faces a big shakeup after river probe
Chinese article by 爱集微
English Editor 张未名
12-12 11:09

The lithium carbonate smelting industry of Yichun in eastern China’s Jiangxi Province, known as “Asia’s lithium capital,” will undergo huge change following environmental checks on a local river, reported Yicai Global on December 6.

“One of the production processes of some local companies is the calcination of lithium mica into lithium carbonate, which is at the center of the probe,” said a source close to Yichun's environmental protection department. “There will be major environmental rectifications in the lithium carbonate industry.”

Previous environmental impact assessments were done based on the standards for ceramic plants rather than lithium plants, according to a Yichun lithium industry insider, said the Yicai report.

Yichun had 100 lithium new energy projects under construction as of June 30, with a total investment of RMB121.5 billion ($17.5 billion), according to official data. Twenty-one other lithium new energy projects worth RMB142.5 billion ($20.50 billion) are in negotiations. Chinese battery giant CATL is among the 20 listed companies waiting for their projects to kick off, reported Yicai Global.

Yongxing Special Steel New Energy Technology, a unit of steelmaker Yongxing Special Materials Technology, said it would temporarily halt its lithium carbonate production line located in the upper reaches of the river.

The lithium carbonate production lines of Anshan Heavy Duty Mining Machinery and KangLongDa Special Protection Technology in Yichun have also halted operations, though both companies said the suspension was due to road construction in the neighborhood, added the Yicai report.

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