Extraction and the green transition : transnational ownership structures of lithium mines

Abstract

Lithium was identified as one of the critical minerals necessary for the global transition to low-carbon. Despite the increased scrutiny the green transition has brought on national and private actors outside their home jurisdictions, the processes for the extraction of lithium risk following the same extractionist patterns as seen with coal and other hydrocarbons. The local population is neglected by the governance approach of the operators of such mines, with profits and raw materials removed from the host nation. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a participatory process which assesses the potential impact a development project may have on the environment. However, it is insufficient to reveal the complexities of ownership and the risks associated with it. The following examination of lithium mines and their ownership structures demonstrates the risks that exist in this regard, as well as highlighting the ‘unconventional’ ways Chile and Zimbabwe chose to govern their natural resources.