In 2026, it is planned to launch a high-tech gigafactory for the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric transport and energy sector in the innovation cluster (New Moscow).
Will Russia build a lithium battery factory in 2025?
Russian nuclear energy giant Rosatom has acquired a 49% stake in Enertech International, a South Korean lithium-ion battery specialist, and has announced plans to build a gigafactory at an unspecified location in Russia. The start of production is scheduled for 2025.
“Industrial lithium production in the country will begin in 2030,” the ministry stated. President Vladimir Putin said last month that Russia should speed up its plans to mine lithium deposits. Demand for lithium has surged in recent years as Russian companies work on the mass production of lithium batteries and electric vehicles.
Where does Russia mine lithium?
In 2023, Russia mined only 27 tons of lithium as a byproduct at an emerald deposit in the Ural Mountains. Kolmozerskoye, which contains one-quarter of Russia's known lithium reserves, is operated by Polar Lithium, a joint venture between Russian metals giant Nornickel and the state-owned nuclear energy firm Rosatom.
Russia plans to produce at least 60,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate in 2030, the natural resources ministry said on Monday, as Moscow seeks to reduce its dependency on imports and boost production of high-capacity electric batteries.
How much lithium does Russia have?
Lithium, a metal essential for electric vehicle production, is included on the list of 50 minerals deemed critical by the U.S. Geological Survey. Russia reported having 3.5 million tons of lithium oxide reserves. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated Russia's lithium reserves at about 1 million tons in 2024, the world's 14th largest.
The start of production is scheduled for 2025. Russian state-owned Rosatom State Nuclear Energy (Rosatom) has acquired a 49% stake in South Korea-based lithium-ion battery manufacturer Enertech International.