The lithium price spike that triggered a global exploration rush has substantially unwound, leaving marginal projects stranded and governments recalculating expected revenue.
Producing countries in South America have responded by seeking a larger share of processing rather than exporting concentrate, a strategy that requires reliable power and patient capital.
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Water use remains the sharpest local dispute. Brine extraction in arid regions competes directly with agriculture and indigenous communities, and consultation processes have often been perfunctory.
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Demand for the metal is not going away. The question is which producers survive the trough well enough to supply the next upswing.
