In numbers: Critical mineral production, ownership, and social unrest
Most mining for critical minerals needed for the energy transition is controlled by countries with advanced economies and major consumer countries. But it is mostly less-wealthy countries that are experiencing protests and violence linked to mining. As mining is forecast to spike, it is likely unrest will too.
The world must stop using fossil fuels, but there must be a just energy transition.
Read our findings and methodology, produced by Global Witness in partnership with L'Observatoire Africain des Ressources Naturelles and Jaringan Advokasi Tambang.
Or to find out more, select a mineral below.
Learn more about Lithium
Lithium is used in batteries, including in electric cars and electricity storage.
Production
Forecast global increase in lithium production, 2021 to 2028.
Consumption
The largest consumer of lithium is China
Percentage of global share, 2024
Global ownership of production
Insufficient data. See methodology section.
Learn more about lithium mining in Australia.
Australia is a top ten producer of lithium, copper, cobalt, nickel.
Mines, protests and violence
Explore the map and hover over events for more information
The map shows one violence and protest event in Australia between 2021-2023 that Global Witness identified from ACLED as linked to lithium production. It also shows lithium mines active in 2024.
Ownership of production in Australia
Insufficient data. See methodology section.
Production
Forecast change in production of lithium in Australia, 2021 to 2028.
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What needs to change, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indonesia
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Dieudonné Been Masudi Kingombe, L’Observatoire Africain des Ressources Naturelles / African Resources Watch (AFREWATCH)
Indonesia
Farhat Alkasman, Jaringan Advokasi Tambang / Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM)