• LITHIUM: The development of a 420 million mining project just 150 miles from the U.S. border in the northwestern state of Sonora, will launch Mexico as one of the top lithium producers in the world once its first phase is completed in 2022.
• JOINT PROJECT: Near the town of Bacadéhuachi (pop. 1,200) is an open-pit strip mine project between Canada-incorporated Bacanora Minerals and China’s giant, Ganfeng Lithium (which has a 22.5% share of the project) and is expected to bring 260 permanent jobs in its first phase.
• RESERVES: “This is the mine with the most well-known accounted reserves and could be one of the most important worldwide. In the beginning, the mine would produce 17,500 tonnes annually and later reach up to 35,000 tonnes”, said Sergio Almazan, an expert on Mexico’s mining.
• TOP MINE: Sonora’s lithium mine is estimated to hold proven and probable reserves of 243.8 million tonnes, making it the world’s largest lithium mining project, per specialized website Mining Technology. The Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada is number two with 179.4 million tonnes.
