Near Mount Everest in China, Chinese researchers found a massive deposit with lithium, “white gold” near the Qiongjiagang Peak on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, between 5,390 and 5,581 meters above sea level.
This region, which is sometimes called the “roof of the world,” may contain over a million tons of lithium oxide, an essential component of batteries used in electronics and electric cars. The Chinese Academy of Sciences‘ discovery is causing excitement and concern.
On one side this could help China’s position in sustainable development and the making of green energy. But on the other side, it raises big questions about ecological damage, climate change, and the survival of one of the planet’s most delicate ecosystems.
White gold in the clouds: a 5,500-meter discovery
The new lithium deposit close to Mount Everest is becoming the third-largest in China. Located just three kilometers outside the Mount Qomolangma Nature Reserve, this high-altitude mine has the potential to rank among the world’s most productive. The site has hard-rock spodumene, which is a lithium-rich mineral that is also found in Australia and is considered as a superior source for battery manufacturing.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences says that this finding could help China’s green energy objectives a lot because the demand for lithium, also known as the “white gold,” is rising since more people change to electric cars and renewable energy sources. China is already a world leader in the making of lithium and batteries, but this discovery puts them in a stronger position as the market leader for clean energy.
But is it possible to make this move toward sustainability without endangering the planet it is meant to preserve?
Why the world is worried
High-altitude mining can have serious logistical and environmental challenges. The Everest region and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are two of the planet’s most fragile ecological zones. And according to experts, Lithium extraction there could cause irreversible damage.
First, because of ecological fragility. Asia relies a lot on the Himalayan rivers and glaciers for freshwater. So mining activities can potentially accelerate glacier melting, or contaminate water supplies, and therefore harm regional ecosystems. People downriver can be affected.
Then it comes carbon cost. Ironically, lithium is a green energy source but its extraction ask for a lot of energy and carbon. High-altitude mining needs heavy machinery, transportation, and power, and all of this could exceed the climate benefits of electric vehicles and renewable technologies.
Finally, a large portion of the global lithium supply chain is already controlled by China and this recent discovery could boost that dominance and make other nations more reliant on Chinese exports, while also creating moral dilemmas about environmental responsibility.
White gold: blessing or burden?
Across the world, lithium is being called the “new oil.” It’s the fuel of the green energy revolution, but also carries the same issue that fossil fuels also once created: how to find a balance between environmental preservation and economic growth.
Although another large lithium site in the United States recently challenged China’s control of the market, the Everest find reinforces the country’s leading position. With billions invested in batteries, renewable energy, and electric vehicles, China keeps moving forward in the race to decarbonize.
International experts are asking for a very strategic planning, international supervision, and transparency while the Chinese Academy of Sciences continues its research. Nobody wants the planet balance to be sacrificed for mining on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
In the end, it’s a great discovery that comes with a warning; If humanity climbs too fast toward its energy goals without protecting the mountain beneath its feet, we may lose both the summit and the ground that supports us.