新能源背景下对锂矿资源开发利用的“理性思考”

RATIONAL THOUGHTS ON LITHIUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND UTILIZATION UNDER NEW ENERGY BACKGROUND

本文运用统计分析方法,通过梳理全球及我国锂金属资源分布和锂矿资源的开发利用情况,以及新能源产业带动锂金属资源需求增长的情况,研究了我国在锂矿资源勘探、开发、利用中所存在的问题,并对我国锂矿资源的市场热度进行了理性分析。研究结果表明:1)当今,我国的锂电产业发展迅速,使得对锂矿资源的需求一直居高不下,但是国内的锂矿产量还不能满足产业发展要求,因而必须从国外大量进口锂矿产品。2021年我国通过不断加大对锂矿资源的开发力度,使得国内对锂矿资源的对外依存度已经从最高峰时的80%多下降至了65%,2022年下降至了55%,但是对外依存度依旧偏高。2)近10年以来,我国锂矿资源的勘探工作无论在理论研究还是在找矿实践方面均取得较大进展,但是与国外矿业强国相比,我国在找矿突破和新增锂矿资源储量方面仍然与这些国家存在着较大差距。3)我国的锂矿资源开采量随着碳酸锂产品需求及价格的上涨有所增加,但仍然存在开采成本较高、技术有待进一步突破等问题。我国的锂辉石矿床品位高,但是规模小,且受地理环境限制,开采难度较大、开采利用率较低;我国的锂云母矿床虽然规模大、采矿难度小,但是矿床品位低、选矿难度较大;我国的盐湖卤水型锂矿资源虽然储量丰富,但受地理位置及高镁锂比提锂技术的影响,使得该锂矿产量一直提升缓慢。4)当前,我国各种社会资本纷纷投入了对国内锂矿探矿权的竞争,导致锂矿探矿权竞争溢价过高,参与竞争的企业常常要以千倍的溢价价格才能够获得锂矿探矿权。本研究认为取得锂矿探矿权不应是企业的最终目的,相关企业更应该通过加大对锂矿资源的勘探投入及加快勘探进度,并在后续的锂矿开采、碳酸锂生产中根据市场需求及时调整锂金属资源的生产与供给,以促进我国锂资源产业链、供应链的有序发展,才是企业取得锂矿探矿权的真正意义所在。

This paper uses statistic methods to study the global lithium resources distribution,development and utilization,and the demanding lithium metal led by the new energy industry,and discusses the issues in China s lithium resource exploration,development and utilization,and rationally analyzes the hot market in China s lithium resources.China s lithium battery industry is growing fast,leading to a surging demand for lithium mineral resources,which can not be satisfied by domestic supply,requiring vast imports.In 2021,China s dependence on imported lithium resources has decreased to 65%from the peak at 80%due to a rising domestic lithium resource development,to 55%in 2022,still highly depending on imports.China has advanced a lot in lithium resources exploration during the recent decade,both in theoretical research and in exploration practice,still with gaps in newly-added lithium reserve and exploration breakthrough with foreign mining giants.China s mining lithium has been increasing as lithium carbonate demands and prices are up,with issues in high mining costs and processing technologies.China s spodumene deposits,high grade,small size,limited by their geographic location,are hard to be mined,low in mining utilization.China s lepidolite deposits,large size,easy mining,but low grade and difficult processing.China s saline lithium has vast reserves,impacted by their geographic locations and high MG/Li ratio,leading to a slow rising production.China s private capitals are competing for domestic lithium exploration rights,resulting in overpayment for owning it,up to thousand times of asking price.Owning lithium exploration rights is not the ultimate objective,the owner should invest the exploration,mining and processing to provide lithium carbonate to the market,forming a sound development of industrial and supply chain.It s the essence of owning a lithium exploration right.