OVERVIEW OF NIGERIAN LITHIUM ORE
As export business is the new hub of investment for economic growth and development in Nigeria, it is of great importance for any viable business that seeks to expand or diversify its organizational activities to tap into the new 'cash cow' as the country is keen on this new revolution.
In the quest, one element has emerged as a crucial player in the world of batteries and renewable technologies, also known as the “WHITE GOLD”. A versatile metal that has become a cornerstone in powering our modern lives. Behind this revolution lies the extraction of the precious mineral and its transformative journey from the earth crust to batteries that fuel our devices and electric Vehicles and as well as the economic importance that shapen the business environment.
In this article, we will explore the export potential of lithium ore.

KNOWING THE SOURCE OF LITHIUM ORE
Lithium Primarily exists in nature in the form of minerals and its extraction involves tapping into the rich deposits.
The Three main source of Lithium Ore are:
1. Spodumene: This is found in pegmatite deposits and it is extracted through traditional mining methods which involves drilling, Blasting, and crushing whereby the resulting concentrate undergoes a complex chemical process to extract lithium.
2. Lepidolite: A lithium mica mineral, lepidolite is typically found in granite pegmatites. While it contains a lower lithium content compared to spodumene, lepidolite is sometimes used as a supplementary source.
3. Petalite: This lithium aluminum silicate is another mineral source, often found in lithium-rich granites. Like spodumene, petalite undergoes a process to extract lithium.

WHERE ARE THEY FOUND IN NIGERIA?
Nigeria rich in resources also has her mineral resources in suplus in various locations. The Nigerian States in which large deposits of Lithium Ore has been dominant are Kwara, Nassarawa, kaduna, Osun, Kogi, and Ekiti. Regionally, the southwest area of the nation's geography, and topping the chat of dominance are Iwajowa, Kaima and Gbugbu. The deposits stretched south western region to North Central of Nigeria which has the best Global Specifications of 99.5 to 99.99% purity, and gross weights for international standards.

EXTRACTION METHODS
The typical process includes:
1. Mining: Ore deposits are located and extracted through conventional mining methods. The choice of mining method depends on factors such as the depth of the deposit, its size, and economic viability.
2. Crushing and Grinding: The mined ore undergoes mechanical processes to reduce its size, making it suitable for further processing.
3. Froth Flotation: To separate lithium minerals from other gangue minerals, froth flotation is employed. The process relies on the differences in the surface properties of minerals, allowing selective separation.
4. Roasting: The concentrate obtained from froth flotation is roasted to convert lithium minerals into water-soluble compounds. This step is crucial for subsequent leaching.
5. Leaching: The roasted concentrate is then subjected to a chemical process called leaching, where lithium is selectively dissolved in an acid solution. This solution is further processed to extract lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide.

BENEFITS OF LITHIUM ORE EXPORT POTFOLIO
1. ENERGY STORAGE:
Lithium-ion batteries, powered by lithium extracted from ore, have become the dominant energy storage technology. These batteries play a pivotal role in the electrification of transportation, renewable energy integration, and grid stabilization. Electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, and various portable electronic devices owe their efficiency and longevity to the high energy density and lightweight properties of lithium-ion batteries.
2. THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL USAGE:
It is a light metal that has excellent heat and electrical conductivity. This makes it useful for manufacturing lubricants, pharmaceuticals, glass, ceramics, and other products that require high thermal and electrical performance.
3. REACTIVE ELECTROCHEMICAL METAL:
It is a highly reactive metal that has the highest electrochemical potential among all metals. This means that it can easily release electrons and form compounds with other elements. This property enables lithium to have diverse chemical applications, such as in organic synthesis, metallurgy, and nuclear fusion.
4. ACCESS TO NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES:
Diversification can open for partnerships, collaborations in terms of tapping into the chance to capitalize on unique market gaps in different regions.
5. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE:
Being present in multiple markets can provide a competitive advantage because it allows a company achieve higher profits, market share, and customer loyalty and adapt or adjust to global trends more effectively in terms of competition.

MAJOR IMPORTS OF LITHIUM ORE
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the global production of lithium ore in 2021 was estimated to be 100,000 metric tons of contained lithium, an increase of 21% from 82,500 metric tons in 2020. The main producers of lithium ore were Australia, Chile, China, and Argentina. As reported by https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2020/mcs2020-lithium.pdf
The major importers of lithium ore are the countries that have a high demand for lithium products, especially for the battery industry. According to the International Trade Centre, the top five importers of lithium ore in 2020 were China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, and the United States. These countries imported a total of 1.8 billion U.S. dollars worth of lithium ore in 2020, accounting for 77% of the global imports. China was the largest importer, with 1.1 billion U.S. dollars worth of lithium ore imports, followed by South Korea with 246 million U.S. dollars

TOP BUYERS OF LITHIUM ORE:
As at today the top buyers are as follows
1. United States
2. Vietnam
3. India
4. Pakistan
5. Phillipines
6. Peru
among many others

while

The Exporters OF LITHIUM ORE:
1. China
2. Hong Kong
3. Germany
4. South Korea
5. Jamaica
6. Belgium
among many others
These statistics are as reported by https://www.volza.com/p/lithium/buyers/buyers-in-united-states/

Environmental Challeges And Solutions For Exporting Lithium Ore:

While mining activities can lead to habitat disruption, Food Poisoning, water misusage, and chemical pollution, Security, insecurity, Quality, getting the right source and the right market, solutions are not far fetched as sustainable mining practices, technological advancements, and recycling efforts are being put in place to mitigate these environmental impacts and ensuring a more sustainable lithium supply chain. As well beefing up security since it is becoming a government venture as a an effort to diversify the country's economic gains

In Conclusion:
Lithium ore, sourced from minerals like spodumene, lepidolite, and petalite, is the fundamental building block for the lithium-ion batteries powering our modern world. It is crucial to recognize the integral role that lithium plays in the ongoing energy revolution. The exploration of sustainable extraction methods and environmental awareness will be key in ensuring that the power within lithium continually drive us towards a cleaner and more efficient future.

HOW TO GET STARTED INTO EXPORTATION OF LITHIUM ORE
At Bowagate Global Limited, we understand that exporting goods from one country to another is a lucrative business but it also involves a log challenges and bottlenecks, from knowledge of the trade regulations to arranging shipment and delivery.
These are many details to manage, but here is where our expertise comes in and is why you have to engage and experienced Freight Forwarding company with integrity and professional track records in the field in terms of exporting.

Call us for an awesome shipping experience.
Our lines are open for business and consultation.

With the inefficiencies in Nigeria exports, I do wonder how profitable lithium would be to us.

If only we could learn to use add value to it and export more finished products.

https://wolfstreet.com/2023/11/23/lithium-shortage-bubble-implodes-once-again-as-demand-and-production-both-surged/