Inspenet, September 26, 2023.
The Mexican Geological Service (SGM) has indicated that lithium deposits are found in at least 18 states of Mexico, covering more than half of the national territory . However, the municipality of Bacadehuáchi, Sonora, is home to the largest deposit in the country, which was recently recovered when concessions granted to a Chinese company were revoked.
Mexico canceled concessions
The Mexican Government canceled nine concessions granted to the Chinese company Ganfeng Lithium, among which one for the aforementioned field in Sonora stood out. According to the General Directorate of Mines (DGM), in the period from 2017 to 2021, the company’s Mexican subsidiaries did not comply with the minimum investments required for mining projects, which implied the risk of cancellation of the concessions.
It is important to note that according to the Chinese company, the cancellation of the concessions by the General Directorate of Mines is not definitive and it is still unknown whether they will be revoked or will remain in force. Likewise, the extent of the possible repercussions of this decision has not been fully assessed.
The company also emphasizes that its subsidiaries presented evidence that they complied with the minimum investment obligations in accordance with Mexican regulations and, despite this, the cancellation proceeded.
In April 2022, the Mexican Government implemented a reform that establishes that concessions will no longer be granted for its exploitation, since this mineral has been declared property of the nation and its use is limited to state control.
Sonora: the place that houses the largest deposit
The Government of Mexico has reported that the state of Sonora is home to the largest deposit in the entire country . This is known as the Lithium Valley and extends for approximately 100 km, from the municipality of Bacadéhuachi to Sahuaripa.
A report published by the Mining Technology company estimates that the Sonora deposit contains a reserve of approximately 243 million 800 thousand tons of lithium carbonate .
However, according to the Mexican Geological Service, deposits of the mineral can also be found in other states, including Chiapas, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Morelos, Coahuila, Sinaloa, Michoacán, Chihuahua, Nuevo León, Guanajuato, Durango, Puebla, Veracruz and San Luis Potosí.
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